Ohio Pro-Life Group Criticizes Governor Strickland Appointing Brown to Supreme Court

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 14, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Ohio Pro-Life Group Criticizes Governor Strickland Appointing Brown to Supreme Court

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 14
, 2010

Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) — An Ohio pro-life group says Governor Ted Strickland has politicized the Ohio Supreme Court with is appointment today of Franklin County Probate Judge Eric Brown to replace the late Thomas Moyer. The decision is coming under criticism from Ohio Right to Life, which says it affects the upcoming 2010 election.

Brown had already been selected by Strickland and other Democratic Party leaders as the Democratic candidate for Chief Justice in the 2010 election.

Strickland’s decision to name Brown to the state’s high court sets up a race between two sitting members of the Supreme Court, Brown and current Justice Maureen O’Connor, the Republican candidate.

Ohio Right to Life tells LifeNews.com that Brown is married to Democratic Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown, who has voted to use tax dollars to support Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio, an organization that performs abortions.

"Governor Strickland’s choice of Eric Brown for Chief Justice is a blatantly political decision," said Mike Gonidakis, director of Ohio Right to Life.

"In order to have the Democratic candidate run as an ‘incumbent’, Strickland has ensured that the remainder of this Supreme Court term will be marked by internal political tension because two members of the Court will be competing for election," he told LifeNews.com today.

"Strickland and Brown clearly lack the statesmanship shown by Justice Evelyn Stratton, who decided not run for Chief Justice in the Republican primary because she was concerned about the negative effects that two sitting Justices running against each other would have on the internal operation of the Court," Gonidakis said.

Strickland has a long pro-abortion record dating back to his time in Congress and he faced pro-life criticism after he failed to provide support for a state law saying abortion centers could no longer put women’s health at risk by not properly using the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug.

Strickland faces opposition from pro-life former Congressman John Kasich in his re-election bid this November. Polling data shows him vulnerable to Kasich’s candidacy and Ohio pro-life advocates will likely work hard to replace Strickland later this year.l

Related web sites:
Ohio Right to Life – https://www.ohiolife.org

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