Ohio Republicans are working on a list of candidates to replace Ohio Supreme Court Justice Deborah Cook, whose nomination to the federal appeals court will be taken up Jan. 14 by the Senate Judiciary Court.

Once Justice Cook is confirmed, Gov. Bob Taft will choose a replacement.

The governor has decided not to follow the recommendation of Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer, who asked him to set up a bipartisan panel of legal experts and non-lawyers to choose two to three people who'd be worthy supreme court justices. Mr. Taft could then pick from among the panel's finalists.

"It's a very long first step in taking some of the special interest politics out of the selection of supreme court justices," Justice Moyer said.

President George W. Bush nominated Justice Cook to the Cincinnati-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in May 2001. Her confirmation was held up by Senate Democrats.

Click here to read the entire Cincinnati Enquirer story.

An announcement has been made that has potential and unknown implications for the Hamilton County lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Ohio's concealed carry ban.

Justice Deborah Cook will not take part in any cases argued before the Ohio Supreme Court as the U.S. Senate takes up her nomination to a seat on the federal court of appeals in Cincinnati.

In a letter yesterday, Cook agreed to a recommendation by Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer that she recuse herself from hearing cases until the Senate holds a floor vote. Moyer said that he would assign state judges to replace Cook during oral arguments.

Click here to read the entire Columbus Dispatch story (subscription site - paid access only), or click on the "Read More..." link below for an archived version of the story.

Concealed Carry Reform continues to have plenty of support heading into 2003.

A Columbus Business First article notes that HB274 had the backing from the Columbus-based Ohio Association of Convenience Stores.

"The group is represented by the 3,300-member Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, and Josh Sanders, legislative affairs director for the group, said mom-and-pop owners like the idea of being able to conceal a weapon.

'They would like to see it pass and feel it would give those coming into stores with bad intentions some major thought,' Sanders said."

Click here to visit the Ohio Association of Convenience Stores website.

The Marion Star has published an article about expectations for the 125th General Assembly, and provides a look back at Larry Householder's first two years as Speaker, which were filled with challenges dealing with difficult budgets, caucus critics, and repeated spats with Senate leaders and Taft.

In the end, Householder emerged golden, winning three additional House seats, approving a majority of his priorities, and getting unanimous support to lead the House again.

But next session won't provide any relief. Among other prickly issues facing the Assembly, Householder discussed the concealed carry issue and his plans for the Spring.

Click here to read the entire Marion Journal story, or click on the "Read More..." link below for an archived version of the story, edited down to just the portion of the article which pertains to the Concealed Carry Reform issue.