DeWine to Appoint New Supreme Court Justice Soon

Gov. Mike DeWine has said he plans to announce his appointment for the open seat on the Supreme Court of Ohio by the end of the year. According to reports, those thought to be under consideration for the appointment are Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Shanahan, Ohio Solicitor General Ben Flowers, and Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters.

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor — a Republican who often sided with the court’s Democrats — is term-limited due to Ohio’s age restriction for judges. Last month, voters elected Republican Justice Sharon Kennedy as the next chief justice. Assuming DeWine selects a Republican to fill Kennedy’s vacant seat, the GOP will maintain its 4-3 majority. 12/14/2022