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Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat Fischer has announced a bid to unseat Justice Jennifer Brunner with 2 years near connected his existent term
ByJULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Voters volition again spot 2 sitting Ohio Supreme Court justices pitted against each different successful 2026, aft Justice Pat Fischer announced a bid Wednesday to unseat Justice Jennifer Brunner with 2 years near connected his existent term.
The seven-member precocious tribunal holds last sway implicit the destiny of galore authorities laws and law issues, dealing with everything from abortion, religion and LGBTQ+ matters to schools, predetermination medication and redistricting.
At 67, Fischer, a Republican, would beryllium ineligible owed to law property limits from moving by the clip his six-term word expires successful 2028. He said he’ll alternatively look disconnected against the 68-year-old Brunner, the lone justness up for reelection adjacent twelvemonth and Ohio’s lone Democratic statewide officeholder.
The look worked past twelvemonth for Republican Justice Joe Deters, who was initially appointed to the court. Rather than tally for the remainder of his existing term, helium chose to tally against incumbent Democratic Justice Melody Stewart and won. His determination created an unfastened spot connected the precocious court, 1 of 2 besides won by Republicans — leaving Brunner arsenic the court’s lone Democrat.
In his written announcement, Fischer described himself arsenic “a reliable Christian Conservative.” He was archetypal elected to the tribunal successful 2016 and was reelected successful 2022.
“Ohioans merit a Justice who volition combat for Conservative values, respect the Constitution and not legislate from the bench,” helium said. “I person a grounds of this and look guardant to erstwhile again earning the enactment of the Ohio Republican Party and each Ohioans.”
Brunner, a erstwhile Ohio caput of authorities who's served connected the tribunal since 2021, filed suit successful 2023 against a caller Republican-backed authorities instrumentality that requires definite judicial candidates to state their enactment affiliation connected ballots. The instrumentality was passed arsenic the authorities was tilting progressively Republican but arsenic Ohio Democrats were having immoderate occurrence successful precocious tribunal races.
“In a Brunner vs. Fischer contention the differences volition beryllium stark and obvious,” she said successful a texted statement. “Party affiliation should beryllium our past interest arsenic judges. It's wide this is the superior purpose successful my colleague's attack — and that's unfortunate.”
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