League of Women Voters of Ohio
all of Hamilton County, OH November 7, 2000 Election
	Robert H. Gorman Answers Questions Candidate for Judge; Court of Appeals; District 1; 6 Year Term Starting 2/12/01

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Do you support public financing of campaigns for judicial candidates? Why or why not?

Public funding will not resolve campaign finance reform. It may equalize spending, but it favors name recognition rather than qualifications. The fallacy is the assumption candidates will agree not to spend private money. The U.S. Sixth Circuit has held, however, that limits on expenditures by judicial candidates generally violate the First Amendment.

2. Would you support merit selection of judges? Why or why not?

Public funding will not resolve campaign finance reform. It may equalize spending, but it favors name recognition rather than qualifications. The fallacy is the assumption candidates will agree not to spend private money. The U.S. Sixth Circuit has held, however, that limits on expenditures by judicial candidates generally violate the First Amendment. Merit selection more effectively addresses public skepticism engendered by soft money and contributions by vested interests.

3. In light of the Report of the Ohio Commission on Racial Fairness: Reviewing fairness of the Ohio legal system, what do you see as your role in addressing racism within the legal system

Ohio Courts are waiting for the Ohio Supreme Court to implement the 1999 recommendations of the Commission on Racial Fairness. The goal of the First Appellate District is to assure that trials and proceedings are race neutral. As appellate judges, we perform this role by reviewing each case for constitutional violations, effective assistance Of counsel, sufficiency of evidence, and the sentence for disparity. Within the court the climate must be race free in all respects. See: State v Walker (Sept. 1, 2000), Hamilton App. No. C980849, unreported. Thomas v Gen. Elec. co. (1999), 131 Ohio App. 3d 825, 723 N.E.2d 1139.