OHIO SUPREME COURT Taft names ex-Cuyahoga Co. judge as outgoing justice's replacement

A judge from Warren was among the candidates.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Justice-designate Terrence O'Donnell says he'll actively work to prevent outside groups from getting involved in the 2004 campaign to keep his seat.
Judge O'Donnell, named Monday by Gov. Bob Taft to replace outgoing Justice Deborah Cook on the Ohio Supreme Court, said he wants to be judged on his merits, not the messages of the pro-business groups that became active in his unsuccessful 2000 campaign to unseat Justice Alice Robie Resnick.
& quot;I would like to be held accountable ... for the things I can control, & quot; said Judge O'Donnell, a former Cuyahoga County appeals court judge.
& quot;I will be vocal, & quot; Judge O'Donnell said of asking third-party groups not to try to influence his campaign. Judge O'Donnell, a Republican, said he would also publicly condemn them if they arise.
Planning to resign
Justice Cook, who was named by President Bush to the federal appeals bench, is expected to resign Friday. Judge O'Donnell, 57, is to be sworn in Monday.
Judge O'Donnell has to run for the remainder of Justice Cook's six-year term in November. The seat comes up again in 2006. Republicans control the high court 5-2.
In 2000, the contest between Judge O'Donnell and Justice Resnick was marred by controversial election-related television advertising.
Justice Resnick, a Democrat, was the target of a multimillion-dollar TV ad campaign by business interests upset with her votes.
One ad by the issue-advocacy group Citizens for a Strong Ohio showed piles of money tipping the scales of justice.
Judge O'Donnell also was criticized in other advertisements financed by third-party groups.
Justice Resnick won the 2000 election with more than 57 percent of the vote.
Group to stay active
Charles McConville, vice president of Citizens for a Strong Ohio, said despite Judge O'Donnell's comments, his group would still remain active.
& quot;We'll continue to be working in '04, & quot; McConville said.
Judge O'Donnell said he would seek to judge all cases on their merits.
& quot;There needs to be a careful analysis of what the facts are, & quot; Judge O'Donnell said.
Taft administration officials said Judge O'Donnell was the right person chosen from a list of nine candidates who were interviewed, including Judge Judith Christley of the 11th District Court of Appeals in Warren.
Brian K. Hicks, Taft's chief of staff, said 18 applications were received, including female and minority candidates.
Ohio Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer praised the selection.
& quot;I have known Terrence O'Donnell for more than 15 years. I have observed his work and found him to be a thoughtful and dedicated judge, & quot; Moyer said. & quot;He will be an fine addition to the court and an excellent replacement for Justice Cook."
Disappointing?
Meanwhile, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Dennis White said O'Donnell's appointment was disappointing for Ohio, but good for Democrats.
& quot;This is going to help my recruiting. Here's a guy who was rejected by Ohio voters, & quot; White said of O'Donnell. & quot;Bob Taft could have done a little bit better. & quot;
O'Donnell has been serving as a visiting judge in various Ohio counties since February.
Before that, he had served on the 8th District Court of Appeals in Cuyahoga County and served as Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge from 1980-94.
Before becoming a judge, O'Donnell was in private practice.
Born in Cleveland, O'Donnell graduated from Kent State University and Cleveland State University law school.