Taft asked to consider race when replacing Justice Cook on high court

Yesterday marked the deadline for applications to replace conservative Republican Justice Deborah Cook, still awaiting U.S. Senate confirmation to the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Fifteen judges and lawyers have submitted resumes to Gov. Bob Taft for an Ohio Supreme Court vacancy that doesn’t exist yet.

Taft spokesman Orest Holubec said the administration has actively sought minority applicants. A third of the applications are from African-Americans.

"I’m glad African-Americans are in the pool of candidates," said state Sen. Ray Miller (D., Columbus). "But I’ve asked the governor not just to consider African-Americans to make sure he has a diverse pool, but to make a commitment to appointing an African-American to the Supreme Court."

OFCC PAC Commentary:
Funny, we always thought qualifications should be the ONLY consideration when selecting judicial nominees, not qualifications and race, or qualifications and religion, or qualifications and...

OFCC PAC will be keeping a close eye on this developing issue, as Gov.Taft's appointment could shift the court away from the constitutionalist majority which was voted in by Ohioans in last fall's elections.

Click here to read the entire story in the Toledo Blade.