Martin Luther King’s Dream of Justice

State and federal government offices, including the Ohio Supreme Court, will be closed on Monday to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

More than 50 years ago,  Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech inspired our nation. And today, students still learn about the meaning of the speech that continues to inspire.  Each February as part of the Supreme Court’s recognition of Black History Month we hear from the local junior division winner of the Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Contest.

It’s wholly appropriate that the Supreme Court hosts this celebration. The ideals that Dr. King outlined in 1963 are those of legal justice and equality. These are the hopes not just of one person, but are the ideals on which our country was founded and those that are to be upheld by our state and federal courts.

State law requires  each judge in Ohio to take an oath of office that promises to strive for justice and equal protection under law.  After swearing or affirming to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Ohio,  the judge promises to  “administer justice without respect to persons,”  and to faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all of the duties of the office according to the best of his or her ability and understanding.

These words regarding administering justice “without respect to persons” echo the portion of Dr. King’s speech that said: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

The U.S. Supreme Court building has the words “Equal Justice Under Law” prominently displayed.  We in the legal profession must continue to work toward equality and justice. And as a nation we can hope Dr. King’s words become more than a dream.

The U.S. Military Veterans of the Ohio Supreme Court

On November 11, 1918, an armistice took effect during World War I on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and Veterans Day was born. We continue to observe that day each year to give thanks to those who have fought for our country.

Forty-six of the 156 Ohio Supreme Court justices have military service in their backgrounds. The first chief judge, Return Jonathan Meigs, won distinction during the Revolutionary War, and eight other justices fought in the War of 1812: Jessup Couch, Samuel Huntington, Peter Hitchcock, Charles Sherman, Henry Brush, Reuben Wood, George Tod, and Gustave Swan.

Five justices volunteered for the Union cause during the Civil War: John Corwin, Thaddeus Minshall, Joseph Bradbury, John Shauk, and William Davis.

One justice, Edward Matthias, served in the Spanish-American War of 1898.

The 11 World War I veterans are Coleman Avery, Benson Hough, Charles Zimmerman, Roy Williams, Robert Gorman, Gilbert Bettman, Robert Sohngen, Henry Middleton, Howard Bevis, Thomas Herbert, and Paul Herbert.

Twelve justices served in World War II: Kingsley Taft, John Peck, C. William O’Neill, Paul Brown, James J.P. Corrigan, Robert Leach, Frank Celebrezze, Asher Sweeney, Robert Holmes, Lloyd Brown, Louis Schneider Jr., and Clifford Brown.

Seven justices served in the military in the decades since World War II: Robert Duncan, David Dowd Jr., James Celebrezze, Andy Douglas, Craig Wright, Herbert Brown, and Francis Sweeney. 

The latest edition of CNO Review features an interview with current Justice William O’Neill, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War. You can read the article and see his video interview at http://www.courtnewsohio.gov/happening/2013/veterans_110513.asp.

All U.S. military veterans who have served and sacrificed for their country will be honored on November 11 as the nation observes Veterans Day. We are proud to include our justices among them.

Justice Robert M. Duncan: Legal Trailblazer



Portrait of the late Ohio Supreme Court
Justice Robert M. Duncan

Occasionally we are able to celebrate someone who has made a tremendous difference in the lives of many. Justice Robert M. Duncan was such a man. On October 10, in an official session of the Supreme Court of Ohio at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, the late justice’s family presented to the court his life-like portrait by Toledo artist Leslie Adams.  

The dedication ceremony was very personal and inspiring and can be seen here in our video archive. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor noted that Justice Duncan was a man of many “firsts.” He was the first African American to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court, the first to win a seat in a statewide Ohio election and the first to be appointed to the federal bench in Ohio. He presided over the case that, in a legal first, ordered the desegregation of Columbus schools. He was a true legal pioneer, blazing a trail for others.

The speakers at the portrait dedication noted Justice Duncan’s illustrious public service career, his generosity, and his love of life. And his family spoke of him with moving devotion.  

Although he ended his judicial career in 1985, Justice Duncan continued to contribute to the legal profession and his community until his death in November of last year. Through his service on the bench and in the community, Justice Duncan was a model for all who aspire to public service. We will be reminded of him by his portrait, which will hang in the Moyer Judicial Center.

Students for Justice

You are never too young to think about justice.  Have you ever heard someone bullying another?  Seen an animal being abused?  Watched property being trashed?  If you aren’t an adult yet, can you do anything about things that are wrong?  Sometimes it takes only a little suggestion to help make the world a better place.

Take a look at Ohio middle school students in these pictures. These activists are trying to tackle tough-to-talk-about problems such as bullying, pregnancy, homelessness, and domestic violence. They, along with more than 150 other students, had the chance to showcase their solutions at the 19th annual Youth for Justice Summit in Columbus sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education.

Youth for Justice is designed to empower young people to be actively engaged citizens  working together to make a positive difference in their communities. Students identify a problem relevant to them, then develop and implement solutions.  This idea can be useful at your school, too.

Let’s give congratulations to the four teams who received the Outstanding Project Award:

“Fighting Bullying,” Greensview Elementary School

(Upper Arlington)                                       

“Relax, Refresh, Respect,” Pleasant Street Elementary

(Mt. Vernon)                        

“Domestic Violence,” St. Francis School (Cleveland)                                                   

“Positive Role Models,” Heritage Middle School (East Cleveland)

And, ‘Good Job!’ to the students from Collinwood High School and Botkins Elementary School.  They received the Youth for Justice Implementation Grant.  This was the first time schools were awarded money to help start up their projects at their own schools.

Botkins students will spread awareness of bullying by distributing “no bullying” frisbees at their school track and field day. Collinwood students plan to design team shirts to wear when they give presentations about the important issue of teen pregnancy prevention. As all these students tell us, it’s never too early to advocate for justice.

 

                Students from Collinwood High School in Cleveland whose project was titled: “RAP: Railroaders Against Teen Pregnancy.”

 

Botkins Elementary students whose project was titled: “Botkins Bully Busters.”