For Immediate Release
March 21, 2000

Contact: Denise Wible
Communications Director
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
614/228-4201

O'Donnell and Cook Win Business Community's Endorsement for High Court

COLUMBUS, OH -- -- The Ohio Chamber of Commerce's political action committee (OCCPaC) today threw its full support behind Justice Deborah Cook and Judge Terrence O'Donnell as the two Ohio Supreme Court candidates who can restore fairness and balance to the state's high court.

OCCPaC endorsed challenger Judge O'Donnell to replace incumbent Justice Alice Robie Resnick while backing the re-election of incumbent Justice Cook.

"Supreme Court decisions have a very real effect on all of us. OCCPaC's endorsements are about what is good for Ohio's economy and, in turn, for all Ohioans," said Ohio Chamber President Andrew E. Doehrel. "Decisions rendered by our state's highest court are creating a hostile judicial climate that works against efforts to keep existing companies and attract new, good-paying jobs to Ohio. Runaway jury awards may make a few people rich, but they also drive-up the cost of goods and services and reduce the opportunities for working families to improve their standard of living."

Judge O'Donnell's endorsement over Justice Resnick stems from a critically important difference in their philosophy.

"Judge O'Donnell's respect for our constitution and the role it defines for the judiciary will make him an excellent addition to the Court. Unlike Justice Resnick, Judge O'Donnell strongly believes in keeping our three branches of government separate," Doehrel said. "He understands that the very nature of our form of government is threatened when judges legislate from the bench. Judge O'Donnell will help restore dignity to a Court that too often seems swayed by politics and personal agendas - not justice."

The Chamber's Political and Candidate Education (P.a.C.E.) program recently released the 2000 Business Evaluation of the Ohio Supreme Court, a 10-year retrospective look at the Court decisions that had the greatest impact on Ohio's economy. The analysis showed that less than one-third of the Court's rulings supported the legal consistency that is essential to a strong economic climate. The study further revealed that Justice Resnick scored lower than all the other sitting Justices. Her rulings supported a favorable economic climate only 18 percent of the time.

Cook's endorsement is made on the basis of her fair and balanced performance on the Court for the past five years. She received a 59 percent overall score in the Chamber's Evaluation.

"Justice Cook has frequently been a minority voice of reason against decisions harmful to Ohio's economic well being," Doehrel said. "Keeping her on the Court is extremely important."

The Ohio Chamber plans to aggressively assist in the effort this year to educate voters about the role of the Supreme Court and the connection between decisions the Court makes and the strength of the state's economic climate.

"Voters are clamoring for solid information on which they can base their decisions about candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court," Doehrel said. "Most of Ohio's citizens don't realize how much they are paying out of their pockets for decisions made by judges who act like legislators. Our Evaluation of the Ohio Supreme Court and these endorsements are one way we can help inform Ohio voters."

Founded in 1893, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce is Ohio's largest statewide business advocacy group. The Chamber works to promote and protect the interests of its members - large and small - while building a more favorable Ohio business climate.