Court News
March 2, 2006
Brentnell and Groveport Students Treated to Special Story Hour with Supreme Court Justice
As about 50 schoolchildren listened with interest today, Justice Terrence O'Donnell of the Supreme Court of Ohio celebrated the birthday of the Cat in the Hat by reading about a mouse.
Justice O'Donnell read to fifth-graders from Brentnell Alternative Elementary in Columbus and fourth-graders from Sedalia Elementary School in the Groveport-Madison area as part of the Read Across Ohio program.
Read Across Ohio is part of a national program to promote reading throughout the year. The National Education Association's Read Across America program traditionally hosts a one-day event on March 2, Dr. Seuss's birthday, to promote the joy and importance of reading.
Justice O'Donnell's selection was “Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse: A Tail of the U.S. Supreme Court,” by Peter and Cheryl Barnes. The story teaches children about the judicial branch of government through Chief Justice Marshall Mouse and his eight fellow justices who serve on the Supreme Court of the United Mice of America.
“It was very impressive to have Justice O'Donnell emphasizing literacy to these children,” said Gary Allen, president of the Ohio Education Association. “That a justice would take the time to reinforce the importance of literacy reinforces what we do at OEA at the end of these events, which is to make sure that kids have books in their hands.”
Others who have participated in “Read Across Ohio” include First Lady Hope Taft, WBNS-TV Anchor Andrea Cambern and former Ohio State Basketball Player Ron Stokes.
Justice O'Donnell, now in his fourth year on the Supreme Court of Ohio, has been a member of the state judiciary for more than 25 years. He has a distinguished judicial background that includes 14 years as a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and eight years as a judge on the 8 th District Court of Appeals in Cuyahoga County.
For a high resolution, publication-quality photo of Justice O'Donnell reading to Brentnell and Groveport students, please click on the above photo or visit: http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/Communications_Office/Press_Releases/2006/odonnell_highres.zip.
Contact: Shannon Libby at 614.387.9250.