Alice Robie Resnick
Encyclopedia
Alice Robie Resnick is a former Justice
of the Supreme Court of Ohio
. In 1988, she was the second woman in Ohio
elected and third to serve on the state bench, and was reelected in 1994 and 2000. Her career has included experience as a private attorney, assistant county prosecutor
, municipal judge, and as a judge on the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals.
One of her most controversial opinions was the 4-3 majority ruling that Ohio's school funding system was unconstitutional. Some of her other opinions angered the Ohio Republicans
, as well as the some members of business special interests, particularly the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
In 2000, she was opposed by Terrence O'Donnell
, in a massive, though unsuccessful, campaign. The successor to Citizens for a Strong Ohio, an arm of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, was disciplined by the Ohio Elections Commission for its illegal use of anonymous corporate donors to pay for an unsuccessful bid to unseat Justice Resnick in the 2000 election. It was revealed in 2005 that the Chamber's subsidiary organization spent $4.2 million in illegal contributions to bankroll a statewide media campaign claiming that with Justice Resnick "justice was for sale." Terrence O'Donnell, her opponent, was later appointed to fill an uncompleted term on the Supreme Court of Ohio.
On January 31, 2005, she was arrested by the Ohio State Highway Patrol
for DUI
. Several motorists had used cell phones to call in a Jeep Grand Cherokee
showing erratic driving. State police confronted her in a gas station and she refused a field sobriety test, resulting in the one-year automatic suspension of her license. After refusal, she ignored police orders to remain at the gas station and drove off. She was pulled over a few minutes later and failed a sobriety test. Justice Resnick registered a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit in the state of Ohio. A dashboard camera recorded the incident, and much of the audio showing Justice Resnick trying to use her office to get out of the DUI charge appeared on the internet. She was convicted of DUI, a first degree misdemeanor
, required to take a three-day alcohol education program, and her license was suspended for six months, overriding the automatic suspension of one year. She was not charged with failure to comply with a police officer, resisting arrest, or fleeing from police. A new state law also implemented a mandatory jail sentence for offenders who refuse a sobriety test and show greater than a 0.17 BAC. The incident and penalty sparked a wave of public criticism, especially after portions of the 90-minute videotape surfaced on various internet video websites.
On January 17, 2006, Resnick announced that she would not seek a fourth term, thus stepping down from the bench on January 1, 2007.
Resnick was selected in 1995 to the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame
.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the Supreme Court of Ohio
Supreme Court of Ohio
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest court in the U.S. state of Ohio, with final authority over interpretations of Ohio law and the Ohio Constitution. The court has seven members, a chief justice and six associate justices, each serving six-year terms...
. In 1988, she was the second woman in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
elected and third to serve on the state bench, and was reelected in 1994 and 2000. Her career has included experience as a private attorney, assistant county prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
, municipal judge, and as a judge on the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals.
One of her most controversial opinions was the 4-3 majority ruling that Ohio's school funding system was unconstitutional. Some of her other opinions angered the Ohio Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, as well as the some members of business special interests, particularly the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
In 2000, she was opposed by Terrence O'Donnell
Terrence O'Donnell
Terrence O'Donnell is an American Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S. state of Ohio.-Education:He graduated in 1964 from St. Edward High School, an all-boys catholic high school on Cleveland's west side. He did his undergraduate studies at Kent State University, graduating with a degree in...
, in a massive, though unsuccessful, campaign. The successor to Citizens for a Strong Ohio, an arm of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, was disciplined by the Ohio Elections Commission for its illegal use of anonymous corporate donors to pay for an unsuccessful bid to unseat Justice Resnick in the 2000 election. It was revealed in 2005 that the Chamber's subsidiary organization spent $4.2 million in illegal contributions to bankroll a statewide media campaign claiming that with Justice Resnick "justice was for sale." Terrence O'Donnell, her opponent, was later appointed to fill an uncompleted term on the Supreme Court of Ohio.
On January 31, 2005, she was arrested by the Ohio State Highway Patrol
Ohio State Highway Patrol
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and is the official highway patrol agency of Ohio. The several missions of the Patrol include providing roadway patrol, emergency response to all public lands, the investigation of crimes which occur on state...
for DUI
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
. Several motorists had used cell phones to call in a Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
showing erratic driving. State police confronted her in a gas station and she refused a field sobriety test, resulting in the one-year automatic suspension of her license. After refusal, she ignored police orders to remain at the gas station and drove off. She was pulled over a few minutes later and failed a sobriety test. Justice Resnick registered a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit in the state of Ohio. A dashboard camera recorded the incident, and much of the audio showing Justice Resnick trying to use her office to get out of the DUI charge appeared on the internet. She was convicted of DUI, a first degree misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
, required to take a three-day alcohol education program, and her license was suspended for six months, overriding the automatic suspension of one year. She was not charged with failure to comply with a police officer, resisting arrest, or fleeing from police. A new state law also implemented a mandatory jail sentence for offenders who refuse a sobriety test and show greater than a 0.17 BAC. The incident and penalty sparked a wave of public criticism, especially after portions of the 90-minute videotape surfaced on various internet video websites.
On January 17, 2006, Resnick announced that she would not seek a fourth term, thus stepping down from the bench on January 1, 2007.
Resnick was selected in 1995 to the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame
Ohio Women's Hall of Fame
The Ohio Women's Hall of Fame was founded in 1978 and has 356 members. It provides public recognition for the achievements of Ohio women that better their state, their country and their world.-See also:*National Women's Hall of Fame...
.