In response to recent criticisms of campaign contributions tainting judicial prudence across the state, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Moyer responded with a surprising call for a revamping of the entire selection process, specifically for the high court. Released Friday in a "guest opinion column" and distributed to newspapers, Moyer answered critics' charges that campaign contributions to judges influence their decisions from the bench. He calls for a constitutional amendment to create an appointive-elective system for selecting justices, citing Ohio as one of only 20 states that elects its judges at every level. The impetus for the column was an Ohio Citizen Action news release calling for five justices to recuse themselves from a case involving First Energy, which contributed to their campaigns in the last election. Moyer insisted "contributions play no role in the utilities case or any other before this court."