Judicial Election Monitoring Committee

The Judicial Election Monitoring Committee is a voluntarily organized committee formed pursuant to Rule II, Section 5(C)(2) of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary of Ohio and intended to provide for expedited consideration of alleged violations of Canon 7 of the Code of Judicial Conduct by candidates for elected judicial offices that appear on the ballot in Cuyahoga County (except for Supreme Court candidates), where both the candidate alleging a violation of Canon 7 (the 'grievant') and the candidate who is alleged to have violated Canon 7 (the 'respondent') have signed an agreement with the Association authorizing this Committee to consider such a campaign grievance.

This is a voluntary alternative dispute resolution process; if a candidate is dissatisfied with this Committee's resolution of a campaign grievance, then the candidate may proceed before the Board of Commissioners pursuant to Rule II, Section 5 of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary of Ohio.

The Committee meets as needed and members make themselves available on an expedited basis during election cycles to participate in panels considering Canon 7 disputes. At least eighteen lawyers who are Association members in good standing are appointed to the Committee and at least four non-lawyers are appointed, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. Political affiliation and candidate contributions are considered in member appointments, so that the Committee as a whole preserves the appearance of impartiality. Members of the Committee may not also serve on the Judicial Selection Committee. New members are generally appointed only when a seat is available on the Committee.

Please click here to request membership on this committee. 

For more information on the Judicial Election Monitoring Committee, please contact:

K. Ann Zimmerman, Bar Counsel

Heather Zirke, Assistant Counsel