LWVLeague of Women Voters of Ohio
all of Hamilton County, OH November 7, 2000 Election
Smart Voter

Robert H. Gorman
Answers Questions

Candidate for
Judge; Court of Appeals; District 1; 6 Year Term Starting 2/12/01

[photo]
 
[line]

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Do you support public financing of campaigns for judicial candidates? Why or why not?

Public funding will not resolve campaign finance reform. It may equalize spending, but it favors name recognition rather than qualifications. The fallacy is the assumption candidates will agree not to spend private money. The U.S. Sixth Circuit has held, however, that limits on expenditures by judicial candidates generally violate the First Amendment.

2. Would you support merit selection of judges? Why or why not?

Public funding will not resolve campaign finance reform. It may equalize spending, but it favors name recognition rather than qualifications. The fallacy is the assumption candidates will agree not to spend private money. The U.S. Sixth Circuit has held, however, that limits on expenditures by judicial candidates generally violate the First Amendment. Merit selection more effectively addresses public skepticism engendered by soft money and contributions by vested interests.

3. In light of the Report of the Ohio Commission on Racial Fairness: Reviewing fairness of the Ohio legal system, what do you see as your role in addressing racism within the legal system

Ohio Courts are waiting for the Ohio Supreme Court to implement the 1999 recommendations of the Commission on Racial Fairness. The goal of the First Appellate District is to assure that trials and proceedings are race neutral. As appellate judges, we perform this role by reviewing each case for constitutional violations, effective assistance Of counsel, sufficiency of evidence, and the sentence for disparity. Within the court the climate must be race free in all respects. See: State v Walker (Sept. 1, 2000), Hamilton App. No. C980849, unreported. Thomas v Gen. Elec. co. (1999), 131 Ohio App. 3d 825, 723 N.E.2d 1139.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League, but formatted for Web display. Ohio Supreme Court Justice: Total words for th answer to the question may not exceed 50 words. The word limit must be observed. Words over the limit will bee cut off in published information.

U.S. Senate: Total words in answer to the question may not exceed 100 words. The word limit must be observeds. Words over the limit will be cut off in published information.

Candidate Page || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter


Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 2, 2000 05:21
LWV Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © 2000 League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.