Jennifer L. Brunner
For Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio
Full Term Beginning 1/1/2023
Candidate Details
- Residence
Columbus - Email
justicebrunner@gmail.com - Website
justicebrunner.com - Social Media
facebook.com/@BrunnerCommittee
twitter.com/@JenniferBrunner
linkedin.com/@JenniferBrunner - Age
65 - Occupation
Justice, Ohio Supreme Court - Education
Miami University 1975-1978 B.S. Sociology-Gerontology, Cum Laude
Capital University Law School 1979-1982 J.D. Law (1983), Order of the Curia - Work Experience
https://www.justicebrunner.com/about_Judge_Jennifer_Brunner
Current Position:
Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, since January 2, 2021, elected November 3, 2020
Past Judicial and Legal Experience:
Judge, Tenth District Court of Appeals, November 30, 2014 – January 1, 2021, elected 2014,
reelected 2016, resigned 2021 to take seat on Ohio Supreme Court; Judge, Franklin CountyCommon Pleas Court, December 1, 2000 – August 31, 2005; elected 2000, reelected 2002,
resigned 2005 to run for Ohio Secretary of State; Ohio Secretary of State, January 2007 – January
2011, elected 2006; private law practice (17 years total), 3/1987 – 12/2000, 9/2006 – 1/2007, 1/2011– 11/2014; government attorney for Ohio Secretary of State, 1/1983 – 3/1987 – assistant
corporations counsel and legislative counsel; adjunct professor, Tiffin University, masters level class
in Law and Ethics for Law Enforcement Officers and undergraduate class in criminal constitutional
law, 2004; foreign rule of law short term technical expert work for USAID in Republic of Serbia,
2012-2013 and in Sri Lanka for Columbo Bar Association, 2015; volunteer course instructor through
American Bar Association (ABA) in Republic of Kazakhstan on civic participation, producing remote
video instructional materials on leadership, principled negotiation and civic advocacy, 2021; election
observer for USAID funded NGO, Democracy International, in Egypt for 3 elections in 2014 and
2015, assigned to Cairo and Alexandria; volunteer rule of law expert for ABA in Benin, August 2022,
with Human Rights Commission. - Family
Married, three adult children - Affiliations
SELECTED AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: (complete list available upon request)
• John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, May 2008, for work as Ohio’s chief election officer. The Profile in Courage Award seeks to make Americans aware of the conscientious and courageous acts of their public servants, and to encourage elected officials to choose principles over partisanship – to do what is right, rather than what is expedient.• Central Ohio Association for Justice George E. Tyack Judicial Excellence Award, May 2016.
• First recipient of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones Award for Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Constitution Society, 2009.
• Named one of 25 leaders in Role Model Magazine, promoting the healthy development of leadership for women and girls, 2014.
• Featured in September 2012 release of the Women’s Book for central Ohio as a woman of achievement.
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: (complete list available upon request)
Professional Organizations:• Fellow, American Bar Association, Life Member
• Fellow, Ohio State and Columbus Bar Associations
• Member Emeritus, National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)
• Served as Co-Chair of International Relations Committee for NASS 2008-2009
• Served as Co-Chair of Elections Committee for NASS 2009-2010
COMMUNITY:
• Past Board Member, Center for Community Solutions, Cleveland, Ohio (health and human services research, policy and advocacy, 2013 to 2019)• Past Board Chair and member, Legacy Fund for LGBT community endowment (2012 to 2021)
• OxFam America, past Sisters on the Planet Ambassador, U.S. national network of women influencers (one of 3 from Ohio) who assist OxFam America in helping to achieve sufficient U.S. policy planning and resources to help improve the lives of people living in poverty or risk of harm in the world (2014 to 2021)
• U.S Global Leadership Coalition, member of Ohio Advisory Committee for organization supporting adequate funding for U.S. Development budget (2011 to 2021)
• Founding Mother, Matriots PAC (nonpartisan political action committee promoting the election of women in Ohio, 2017 to present)
• Former Board Member, ProgressOhio Education (supporting public policy research and education, 2011 to 2016)
• Former Member, Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist licensing board, appointed by Ohio governor, (2013 to 2014)
• Former Member, Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, appointed by Ohio governor, (2011 to 2012)
• Former Member, Central Ohio Transit Authority (public transit bus system operating board), appointed by Mayor of Columbus, (2013 to 2014)
• Former Board Member, Neighborhood Launch Condominium Association (2013 to 2016)
• Volunteer, Clintonville Resource Center (Columbus, Ohio), providing pro bono legal work to its clients (2013-2014)
- Endorsements
Justice Jennifer Brunner for Chief Justice 2022 Endorsements here: https://www.justicebrunner.com/endorsements
- Bar Association Ratings
Jennifer L. Brunner
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
https://www.ohiobar.org/2022-judicial-elections/jennifer-brunner/
Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, since January 2, 2021, elected November 3, 2020
Judge, Tenth District Court of Appeals, November 30, 2014 – January 1, 2021, elected 2014,
reelected 2016, resigned 2021 to take seat on Ohio Supreme Court;
Judge, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, December 1, 2000 – August 31, 2005; elected 2000,
reelected 2002, resigned 2005 to run successsfully for Ohio Secretary of State.
Current Position:
Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, since January 2, 2021, elected November 3, 2020
Past Judicial and Legal Experience:
Judge, Tenth District Court of Appeals, November 30, 2014 – January 1, 2021, elected 2014,
reelected 2016, resigned 2021 to take seat on Ohio Supreme Court; Judge, Franklin County
Common Pleas Court, December 1, 2000 – August 31, 2005; elected 2000, reelected 2002,
resigned 2005 to run for Ohio Secretary of State; Ohio Secretary of State, January 2007 – January
2011, elected 2006; private law practice (17 years total), 3/1987 – 12/2000, 9/2006 – 1/2007, 1/2011– 11/2014; government attorney for Ohio Secretary of State, 1/1983 – 3/1987 – assistant
corporations counsel and legislative counsel; adjunct professor, Tiffin University, masters level class
in Law and Ethics for Law Enforcement Officers and undergraduate class in criminal constitutional
law, 2004; foreign rule of law short term technical expert work for USAID in Republic of Serbia,
2012-2013 and in Sri Lanka for Columbo Bar Association, 2015; volunteer course instructor through
American Bar Association (ABA) in Republic of Kazakhstan on civic participation, producing remote
video instructional materials on leadership, principled negotiation and civic advocacy, 2021; election
observer for USAID funded NGO, Democracy International, in Egypt for 3 elections in 2014 and
2015, assigned to Cairo and Alexandria; volunteer rule of law expert for ABA in Benin, August 2022,
with Human Rights Commission.
Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, since January 2, 2021, elected November 3, 2020
Judge, Tenth District Court of Appeals, November 30, 2014 – January 1, 2021, elected 2014,
reelected 2016, resigned 2021 to take seat on Ohio Supreme Court;
Judge, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, December 1, 2000 – August 31, 2005; elected 2000,
reelected 2002, resigned 2005 to run successfully for Ohio Secretary of State.
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have 17 years private law practice experience representing clients in state trial and
appellate courts throughout Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court, federal courts in Ohio, state
and federal agencies outside of Ohio and Ohio state and local administrative agencies.
I have represented clients in and out of litigation regarding their business concerns, their public participation in matters such as initiative and referendum, nonprofit and campaign work and private individuals on personal matters. The practice of law is a calling and I value it for the service lawyers can provide to the public in furthering the effectiveness of the rule of law for all.
I have 17 years private law practice experience representing clients in state trial
and appellate courts throughout Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court, federal courts in Ohio,
state and federal agencies outside of Ohio and Ohio state and local administrative
agencies. I have represented clients in and out of litigation regarding their business
concerns, their public participation in matters such as initiative and referendum,
nonprofit and campaign work and private individuals on personal matters. The practice
of law is a calling and I value it for the service lawyers can provide to the public in
furthering the effectiveness of the rule of law for all.
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
Ohio is at a point in time that experienced and principled leadership of the Ohio Supreme Court is critical. The judiciary is an entire branch of government in Ohio, and it is the only branch of state government that can actually hold the other two branches accountable in quelling corruption perceived or otherwise, such as with issues involving the drawing of legislative lines in the state for fair districts. As Chief Justice, I would be the superintendent of all of the courts of this state under the Ohio Supreme Courts rules of superintendence. I am the only candidate in the race with the statewide administrative experience to do this job. I believe I am duty-bound to step up to serve, and I do so because of my love for my state and its people.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersI’m running for Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court because justice matters for every Ohioan. Steady and principled leadership of the state’s highest court is essential to helping Ohioans realize justice in their everyday lives. Ohio is a very diverse state with deep rural roots, storied urban communities and countless small and middle-sized towns and cities. I take seriously my responsibility as one of seven people elected to do justice for all the people of Ohio. I am grateful for what I’ve learned from Ohioans in my many years of service to them, working at three levels of the state’s courts and as Ohio’s first female secretary of state. Administrative and policy leadership of the court is not about an ideology of who should win and who should lose. It is about a belief and understanding that courts are only as effective as people believe them to be. Good judges and fair courts can lift the confidence Ohioans have in their judiciary. I know that courts can do good things for people; protect their health, safety and welfare with fairness, equality and respect. I am committed to doing this every day now and as Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. I am further committed to using the power of the court to help lift the vision of all judges to why we serve and the power we have to do good for all Ohioans.