AGAIN! State Bar condemns 2nd anti-Stratton ad as maligning judiciary
For the second time in the last week, an anti-Justice Evelyn Stratton television advertisement, intended to benefit her opponent Janet Burnside, has been condemned by the Ohio State Bar Association.
The ad - produced by a political action committee funded by trial lawyers, teachers, and unions - impugns the integrity of candidates for two seats on the court by suggesting they are biased, according to the bar’s 11-member advertising watchdog committee.
It marks the second ad by Citizens for an Independent Court that has been condemned in the last week. The group supports the election of two Democrats, Tim Black and Janet Burnside. Both Black and Burnside have refused to disassociate themselves from the condemned ads.
"This ad serves to erode public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary by attempting to convince or have voters believe that candidates will decide cases in a predetermined manner," said David Crago, chairman of the committee and dean of Ohio Northern Law School.
OSBA spokesman Bill Weisenberg said the committee also looked at other materials, but determined to publicly condemn only the Independent Court ad.
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