Ohio Supreme Court (OSC) Proposed Court Rules to Let Judges Advertise Party Affiliations 

Judicial candidates who run without party affiliations listed on general election ballots would be able to advertise their party memberships on campaign materials, under a draft rule published by the Ohio Supreme Court. The proposed change, which would help voters determine candidates’ political persuasions, is part of a revised Code of Judicial Conduct the court released for public comment. The rules provide for several changes, including allowing judges to encourage the availability of pro bono services and also prevents judges from making pledges or commitments that interfere with the impartial performance of the job; offer guidance for judges who work specialized dockets and provide clearer guidelines for accepting and reporting gifts.

The proposal also eliminates language that required judges to file their campaign finance reports with the clerk of the court to which they have been elected. The court noted that electronic finance reports are increasingly available on the Internet, making the burden to file with the state and locally duplicative.

The proposed rules were based on the recommendations of the court’s Task Force on Judicial Conduct. Public comment will be accepted through Oct. 17.