Former Ohio judges worried about politicized courts take concerns on tour

July 10, 2026 | Sarah Donaldson | The Statehouse News Bureau

As the “Justice in Motion” bus tour rolled through Columbus and Wooster, retired judges—including former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and retired Cleveland Municipal Judge Ronald Adrine—spoke out against increasing partisanship in the legal system. Organizers Keep Our Republic and the Democracy Rising Collaborative led rallies, student meetings, and press conferences across the state to emphasize that judges must remain beholden to the rule of law rather than political interests. . . .