A Guide for Evaluating Judicial Candidates

It's not always easy getting the information needed to make an informed decision about candidates running for judge. Here is a handy guide for evaluating judicial candidates.

Candidate Questionnaires 

Bar associations, newspapers, and websites that provide judicial election information often ask judicial candidates to fill out questionnaires. Candidates have the opportunity to tell voters about things like their education, endorsements, affiliations, and work experience. 

For example, the League of Women Voters sends candidates a questionnaire and posts the candidates’ responses on their website vote411.org.

For a variety of reasons, candidates do not always respond to questionnaires. We encourage you to take action and write to candidates about sharing their information because that can give voters a sense of who the judge is and why they’re running for office. Email addresses for candidates are available on their websites. The more information, the better!

Endorsements

An endorsement by an individual or group can be another way to evaluate judicial candidates. Many times, candidates will display their endorsements on their campaign websites and local newspapers also endorse candidates. 

Judicial Forums & Debates

Judicial forums are another way for voters to evaluate judicial candidates. While judicial candidates can’t tell you how they plan to rule, you can get to know them better at candidate forums. 

Here are some questions that the candidates are free to answer:

• Why do you want to be a judge?

• What work or other experience have you had that particularly qualifies you to perform the duties of a judge?

• What do you consider your greatest strengths? Weaknesses? 

• What do you perceive as the greatest obstacle to justice? 

• To what extent do you believe that a judge should or should not defer to actions of a legislature? 

• How do you believe that we can assure that judges are independent of special interests? 

• When should a judge recuse themselves or step away from a case?

Who’s Contributed to Their Campaigns

A candidate’s campaign contributors may also help determine which judge gets your vote because Ohio judges are allowed to hear cases from their contributors and are not required to recuse themselves. As such, the potential negative effects of campaign finance on judicial impartiality and independence should be of great public concern. For information on candidate campaign contributions, visit the Ohio Secretary of State.

Who’s Paying for the Ads

Who’s paying for the ad equals an endorsement. Check the “paid for by” disclaimer included on political advertisements. This will tell you whether the ad is paid for by the candidate, a political party, or an organization.