Happy Holidays!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

The Power of One

Last month Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and Justices Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Yvette McGee Brown and I spoke at an event honoring Rosa Parks, the “Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement.” Ohio was recently recognized in the U.S. Congress as the first state to officially observe Rosa Parks Day.

Our Nov. 30 panel was part of a two-day tribute to Parks, who in December 1955 refused to give up her bus set to a white passenger, an event that sparked tremendous publicity and progress for civil rights for African Americans. She exemplifies the “power of one.”

Like Rosa Parks, who had the courage of her convictions, we as individuals have our own ripple effect on those in our world. Each of us has special talents, gifts we’ve been given and that we’re expected to use and develop. As we four justices spoke about our own experiences, we showed how each one of us has pursued a unique path to our present judicial positions. We are individuals with the “power of one,” but we work together to create a collegial court, one that deliberates for better judicial decisions. Our combined work is the power of one Supreme Court that works for all Ohioans.

Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center

As of December 2, the building that houses the Supreme Court of Ohio has a new name.

The Ohio Judicial Center will now be called the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in honor of our late Chief Justice Moyer.

The second longest serving chief justice in Ohio history, and the longest serving state court chief justice in the nation at the time of his untimely death on April 2, 2010, Chief Justice Moyer served the court for just shy of 24 years. He is known for starting the rehabilitation of the 1930s Ohio Departments building that became the Ohio Judicial Center in 2004 and for his significant contributions to civility and public service and his dedication to the rule of law.

Almost 400 members of the judiciary and guests honored the late chief justice on Dec. 2 during the rededication ceremony. As part of the event, Chief Justice Moyer’s official court portrait was hung in the grand concourse where it will welcome all visitors to the home of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Three New Education Links

Other places in the United States are becoming involved in civics education. Here are a couple of sites I’ve discovered, along with the ABA’s URL on the topic of democracy and public education.

www.classroomlaw.org  is from Oregon, and it begins:

Democracy, civics and active participation in the community are not things with which we are born – they must be learned. Which is why Classroom Law Project brings vital and engaging civics and law-related education programs into Oregon schools, teaching students at all grade levels the values and skills essential to being a participating citizen in our democracy. Each year, our innovative, timely, practical and fun programs involve and inspire over 400 teachers and 24,000 students from 250 schools in 75 Oregon communities.

www.civiced.org  from California also has similar goals:
The Center for Civic Education is an independent, nonprofit organization based in California with a network of program coordinators in every state and congressional district in the country and in more than seventy emerging and advanced democracies throughout the world. The mission of the Center is to promote an enlightened and responsible citizenry that is committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy in the United States and other countries. The Center administers a wide range of critically acclaimed curricular, teacher-training, and community-based programs in conjunction with civic educators and activist around the world.

Finally, here is the American Bar Association’s Public Education Division: www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education.html

Justice Lanzinger Welcomes New Lawyers

I was privileged to give the keynote speech after more than 900 new attorneys took the oath of office on Nov. 7 at the Ohio Theatre here in Columbus.

Among other things, I told them: “Your status has changed. You are now a lawyer. You are now an attorney at law. What you say and what you sign guarantees trust, for as your oath said, 'you are an officer of the court.' You now officially belong in the land of the law… as an attorney you have the tools to help those most in need. Apart from understanding law, attorneys have to be good with people. After all the heart and the soul of your practice will always be your clients. Their problems are paramount. Their needs and wishes must always be considered.”

More than 81 percent of the 1,176 applicants who sat in the July 2011 exam received passing scores and satisfied all of the Supreme Court’s other admissions requirements. They are the future leaders of the practicing bar of Ohio and we wish them successful careers in helping others.

In case you missed it, a link to the entire speech is right here.

First school to use transportation grant visits the Supreme Court of Ohio

It’s great to see the $30,000 worth of transportation grants being put to good use!

Fifth and sixth graders from Keene Elementary traveled from western Ohio to learn how the judicial system works firsthand. The students participated in a Harry Potter mock trial and learned about forensic evidence.

The Keene students had never before visited us at the Supreme Court of Ohio. They were so excited to be here!

This is the first year the Visitor Education Center received money to help bring students to the Ohio Judicial Center. If your school is interested in touring the Visitor Education Center please call 614.387.9223 or e-mail courttours@sc.ohio.gov.

Ohio Teachers Become Students during Two-Day Program

Teachers from across the state visited the Ohio Judicial Center on Nov. 2 to learn more about the Supreme Court of Ohio.

More than 20 Ohio teachers participating in the annual Ohio Government in Action program sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. The two-day program teaches the educators about the three branches of government.

Besides being welcomed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Conner, the group also took a tour of the Visitor Education Center, observed a Supreme Court of Ohio oral argument session, and ate lunch with Justices Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Terrence O’Donnell, Robert R. Cupp, Yvette McGee Brown and myself.

The group also toured the Statehouse and met with Secretary of State Jon Husted and Attorney General Mike DeWine and had meetings with legislators.

Teachers: Please don’t hesitate to contact the Visitor Education Center if you’d like to tour the Ohio Judicial Center.