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Justice O'Connor Speaks at Girl Scout Conference
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O’Connor honored the top scouts of the Seal of Ohio Girl Scout Council April 24 at the group’s annual leadership conference and recognition luncheon at COSI. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Speaks at Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O’Connor welcomed the children of Court employees on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Thursday, April 24. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Hosts Girls Conference Participants
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O’Connor spoke with 50 girls in grades seven through 10 April 17 at the Ohio Judicial Center as part of their involvement in this year’s Shirley Chisholm Conference for Girls in Government. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Addresses Prosecuting Attorneys Association
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O'Connor offered practical advice April 11 for prosecuting attorneys practicing before the Supreme Court at the spring training conference of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Addresses Medical Society Membership
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O'Connor participated in a panel discussion and spoke April 10 at the Stark County Medical Society general membership meeting. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Meets With Metro High School Students
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O'Connor met April 8 with about 70 students from the Metro High School and gave them an overview of the Court, the judicial process and her role on the Court. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor to Judge Moot Court Competition
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O’Connor will serve as Chief Justice on a three-judge panel during the final round of the 16th annual Herman Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Meets With Boy Scouts
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O’Connor welcomed members of the Boy Scouts to the Ohio Judicial Center Feb. 20. Justice O’Connor spoke to the Scouts about the role of the judiciary. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Swears In Conservation Group’s Board Members
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O’Connor conducted the swearing-in ceremony of board members for the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD) on Jan. 30. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Addresses Students at Statewide Academic Competition
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O’Connor served as a judge and speaker at the We the People, the Citizen and the Constitution civic competition Jan. 25. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Administers Oath of Office in Olmsted Falls
Justice Maureen O'Connor of the Supreme Court of Ohio administered the oath of office during the Jan. 2 Olmsted Falls City Council organizational meeting.
(Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Delivers Message at Dayton Event
Justice Maureen O'Connor of the Supreme Court of Ohio spoke Dec. 10 to a gathering of Dayton Bar Association members.
(Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Addresses State Prosecuting Attorneys
Justice Maureen O’Connor of the Supreme Court of Ohio provided the keynote address Nov. 29, 2007 at the annual Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association Awards Banquet at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.
(Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Gives Keynote Address at Belmont County Law Enforcement Awards
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O'Connor provided the keynote address at the Belmont County Law Enforcement Awards ceremony Nov. 16, 2007, at St. Joseph Central School in Bridgeport.
(Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Participates as Judge at Cleveland Charity Event
Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Maureen O'Connor participated as a judge at the 3rd Annual Funky Diva Purse Auction on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at the historic Josaphat Arts Hall in Cleveland. (Read more.)
Justice O'Connor Speaks to Medina Area Legal Professionals
Justice Maureen O'Connor of the Supreme Court of Ohio spoke with members of the Medina County legal community Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, during the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Medina County Association for Legal Professionals. (Read more.)
Justice Maureen O'Connor was born in
the nation's capital but raised in Strongsville and Parma. Her election in 2002
as the 148th justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio is the latest
achievement in a long career of public service.
While gaining experience in practice as an attorney during the early 1980s, Justice O'Connor created a home for her family and her legal career in northeast Ohio. Appointed as a magistrate in Summit County in 1985, she served in that capacity until she became a common pleas court judge in 1993. As a busy trial judge, Justice O'Connor was selected by her peers to serve as the administrative judge — a testament to her ability to build coalitions and maintain collegiality while administering to the business of the courts.
But Justice O'Connor felt compelled to return to work on the front lines of protecting the public. She became the Summit County prosecuting attorney in 1995, aggressively prosecuting repeat offenders, violent criminals and public officials who committed ethical violations or improprieties. She was recognized for her work on behalf of victims, and remains proud of awards bestowed on her by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Cleveland State University. As prosecutor, Justice O'Connor also lobbied the General Assembly for tougher rape laws and mandatory jail time for gang-related offences. Successful in her undertakings, she set her sights on more difficult challenges.
In 1998, the people of Ohio elected Justice O'Connor as their lieutenant governor — the second-highest official in the state. She quickly became the governor's chief advisor on criminal justice issues, serving as Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and as chair of Ohio's Security Task Force and the State Building Security Review Committee. Her experiences in law enforcement proved invaluable, particularly in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks when she led the state in its response to new threats of terrorism. Her leadership in this area garnered the attention and the praise of the country's first homeland security advisor, Tom Ridge.
Since her election to the Supreme Court of Ohio, Justice O'Connor has continued to work for justice. In addition to her responsibilities hearing the array of cases presented to the Court, Justice O'Connor devotes herself to educational initiatives for Ohio's students and to matters of security, such as the new Advisory Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness, which she chairs.
| LEGAL EXPERIENCE | |
| Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio | |
| Elected in November 2002 and began term January 2003. | |
| Prosecuting Attorney, Summit County | |
| Served from 1995 to 1999. | |
| Judge, Summit County Court of Common Pleas | |
| Served from 1993 to 1995 and elected by her peers to serve as Administrative Judge. | |
| Magistrate, Summit County Probate Court | |
| Appointed in 1985 and served until 1993. | |
| Attorney, private practice of law | |
| Practiced from 1981 to 1985 and handled both criminal and civil cases. | |
STATEWIDE PUBLIC SERVICE |
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| Lieutenant Governor and Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, State of Ohio | |
| As lieutenant governor from 1999 to 2003, O'Connor also chaired the State of Ohio Security Task Force and the State Building Security Review Committee. | |
HONORS AND AWARDS
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EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts, Seton Hill College, 1973.
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PERSONAL Born: Aug. 7, 1951 in Washington, D.C. and raised in
Strongsville, Ohio and Parma, Ohio.
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CONTACT INFORMATION Justice Maureen O'Connor
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