Meet the Candidate: Justice Melody Stewart Ohio State Supreme Court Justice

DISTRICT & DESCRIPTION

Ohio State Supreme Court, Ohio

WHY I’M RUNNING FOR OFFICE

Justice Stewart says she’s never decided a case based on party identity. “Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, we all take the same oath,” she said. Since serving on the Ohio Supreme Court and on the 8th District Court of Appeals, Stewart said has had the opportunity to listen to her colleagues’ interpretations and legal analyses as they discuss cases and the writing of decisions.

“That is absolutely invaluable to me, to weigh those and consider those,” she said, “because at the end of the day, if you feel something is morally wrong, if you feel that it’s just a decision that is repulsive, you can still say that. But you still have to faithfully apply the law, and it’s got to work evenly for everybody. It’s got to work the same.”

EDUCATION

A proponent of lifelong learning, Justice Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, a law degree as a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellow from the College of Law at Cleveland State University, a Ph.D. from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University as a Mandel Leadership Fellow, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Cleveland State University.  

EXPERIENCE

Elected in 2018, Justice Stewart is an experienced member of the Ohio Supreme Court. During her campaign, she was  “Highly Recommended” by local bar associations and was designated the highest rated Supreme Court Candidate by the Ohio State Bar Association.

Justice Melody Stewart has over 30 years of legal experience – ranging from civil litigation practice and teaching students at several Ohio law schools to being an appellate court judge and sitting by assignment on the Ohio Supreme Court prior to being elected to the Supreme Court.

For 12 years, Justice Stewart served on the Ohio Court of Appeals – Eighth District, earning re-election twice due to her reputation as an insightful and fair jurist on the appellate court.  Justice Stewart served as the court’s administrative judge in 2013, overseeing court employees, implementing improvements to the court, and ensuring a professional work place.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Justice Stewart has spent countless hours serving various organizations and state and local communities through civic, educational, and professional boards and committees including:

  • The Board of Planning and Zoning for the city of Euclid
  • County Community Juvenile Diversion Program
  • College visiting committees
  • The Catholic Charities Service Corporation
  • The Judicial College of the Ohio Supreme Court
  • The Criminal Justice Recodification Committee.

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Stewart for Ohio Supreme Court
2 Bratenahl Place 15A
Cleveland, Oh 44108

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