The Northern Ohio Political Action Committee (NOMPAC) supports the re-election of Maureen O'Connor and Evelyn Lundberg Stratton to the Ohio Supreme Court

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
Lieutenant Governor and Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, State of Ohio

HONORS AND AWARDS
• MADD Law Enforcement Award, Summit County, Ohio, 1997.
• Cleveland State University Distinguished Alumnae Award for Civic Achievement, 1997.
• Commencement Speaker for Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1999.
• Commencement Speaker for Seton Hill College, May, 2001.

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Seton Hill College, 1973.
Juris Doctor, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1980.
PERSONAL
Born: Aug. 7, 1951 in Washington, D.C. and raised in Strongsville, Ohio and Parma, Ohio.
Member: St. Ann's Parish, Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Children: Alex and Ed.

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, of the Supreme Court of Ohio, came to the bench by a very different route. Born to missionary parents in Bangkok, Thailand, Justice Stratton spent her childhood in Southeast Asia. She attended boarding school in South Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam War and later in Malaysia, visiting America on occasion with her parents. At age 18, she returned to America alone with only a few hundred dollars in her pocket. Working her way through school, she earned a Juris Doctor degree from The Ohio State University College of Law.
She began her legal career as a trial lawyer in the courtrooms of Central Ohio. In 1989, she was the first woman to be elected Judge of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Presiding over major cases ranging from complex civil actions to capital murder, she established a solid record of judicial integrity, fairness, and diligence. She became known as "The Velvet Hammer” for her approach to sentencing in serious felony cases. Her success on the trial bench led to an appointment in 1996 to the Supreme Court of Ohio, where she was elected to a second term in 2002.
Justice Stratton’s efforts in the community and her commitment to family have led to major changes in adoption law. As chairperson of a national committee, Justice Stratton led a nationwide effort to streamline the appeals process in adoption cases. She has also provided strong leadership as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Prevent Blindness Ohio.
Justice Stratton also believes that the courts, in partnership with the mental health system, can affect positive change in the lives of many defendants whose mental illness has led to criminal activity To that end, she formed The Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Mental Illness in the Courts, which is comprised of mental health, law enforcement, and criminal justice professionals who are dedicated to mental health initiatives in the court system.
Nationally, Justice Stratton was a founder and former co-chair of the Judges' Leadership Initiative, a professional association that supports cooperative mental health programs in the criminal justice system. She also co-chairs the Returning Home Advisory Commission, a group devoted to helping former inmates return to the community, while serving to reduce the number of repeat offenders.
In a May 2008 ceremony in New York City, Justice Stratton was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. She earned the award for her leadership on behalf of abused and neglected children and those with mental illness who find themselves in the criminal justice system
On the lighter side, Justice Stratton is proud of her first-place finish in a college Stampede Girls Goat Tying Competition - a talent she later employed as a trial lawyer. Justice Stratton is the wife of John A. Lundberg III, and the mother of two adult sons. She enjoys painting, Thai cooking, and fly fishing with her
 

Elect Justices Who Understand the Role of the Ohio Supreme Court is to Interpret the Laws, Not Make New Laws

Send mail to webmaster@nompac.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 Northern Ohio Medical Political Action Committee
Last modified: September 26, 2008