Jul 28, 2010

Ohio Democratic Party Joins Free Speech Lawsuit Challenging Ohio Judicial Election Laws

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Democratic Party joined a lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, which challenges multiple restrictions imposed on judicial candidates by Ohio election law. The lawsuit seeks to overturn rules that prevent judicial candidates from disclosing their party affiliation and from soliciting funds. Both of these provisions were recently overturned with regard to Kentucky judicial candidates by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. In addition, the suit challenges the exclusion of the party affiliation of judicial candidates on Ohio's general election ballots.

"There is no reason for judicial candidates to be forced to withhold their party affiliation from the electorate," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern. "Ohio voters have a right to know the political party that a judicial candidate is affiliated with. The more information voters have, the better. I call on the Ohio Republican Party to join us as a plaintiff in this case, which simply applies the 6th Circuit’s ruling, written by a conservative Republican judge."

Other plaintiffs in the case include AFSCME Council 8 and several Ohio judges.

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