Thomas J. Moyer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph Moyer was an American
jurist and the chief justice of the Ohio
Supreme Court from 1987 to 2010. A member of the Republican Party
, he died suddenly on April 2, 2010, at age 70.
, he attended Sandusky High School
and went on to receive both his undergraduate and law degree from The Ohio State University
. He served as chairman of the board of directors of the O.S.U. Alumni Association, as well as the board of directors of Franklin University
.
From 1979 to 1987, Moyer served on the Tenth District Court of Appeals for Ohio, which covers Franklin County
. Prior to his appointment, he served as the president of the Columbus Board of Education. During his tenure there, the board found itself in the middle of desegregation fights, chronicled in the book Getting Around Brown. He also served for four years as an executive assistant to Governor James A. Rhodes (R-Ohio) and eight years in private practice in Sandusky.
Moyer was married and lived in Columbus
. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004.
decision dealing with school funding, as well as the late 1990s' legal battle over tort reform
.
Although a Republican, Moyer's strong belief in the principles of stare decisis
. In 2001, he created a task force on guardians ad litem in Ohio. In 2004, when the court moved into new quarters, some controversy ensued over the cost involved. On May 15, 2004, the building was dedicated by U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist
. The court now posts its oral arguments online through RealPlayer.
Under Moyer's leadership, the court:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist and the chief justice of the 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...
Supreme Court from 1987 to 2010. A member of the Republican Party
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...
, he died suddenly on April 2, 2010, at age 70.
Pre-Supreme Court
Until his death, Moyer was the longest-serving state chief justice in the United States. Born in Sandusky, OhioSandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
, he attended Sandusky High School
Sandusky High School
Sandusky High School, or SHS, is a secondary school in Sandusky, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Sandusky City School District, and one of three high schools in the city of Sandusky; the other two are St Mary Central Catholic High School, and Perkins High School.SHS was one of the first...
and went on to receive both his undergraduate and law degree from The Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. He served as chairman of the board of directors of the O.S.U. Alumni Association, as well as the board of directors of Franklin University
Franklin University
Founded in 1902, Franklin University is the third-largest private university in Ohio.Classes are taught at five Midwest locations in Ohio and Indiana, as well as online. The university was founded to serve the needs of adult students, and has since grown to become Central Ohio's foremost educator...
.
From 1979 to 1987, Moyer served on the Tenth District Court of Appeals for Ohio, which covers Franklin County
Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
. Prior to his appointment, he served as the president of the Columbus Board of Education. During his tenure there, the board found itself in the middle of desegregation fights, chronicled in the book Getting Around Brown. He also served for four years as an executive assistant to Governor James A. Rhodes (R-Ohio) and eight years in private practice in Sandusky.
Moyer was married and lived in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004.
As judge
Moyer presided over the DeRolphDeRolph v. State
DeRolph v. State was a landmark case in Ohio constitutional law in which the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state's method for funding public education was unconstitutional...
decision dealing with school funding, as well as the late 1990s' legal battle over tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
.
Although a Republican, Moyer's strong belief in the principles of stare decisis
Stare decisis
Stare decisis is a legal principle by which judges are obliged to respect the precedents established by prior decisions...
. In 2001, he created a task force on guardians ad litem in Ohio. In 2004, when the court moved into new quarters, some controversy ensued over the cost involved. On May 15, 2004, the building was dedicated by U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist
William Rehnquist
William Hubbs Rehnquist was an American lawyer, jurist, and political figure who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States and later as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States...
. The court now posts its oral arguments online through RealPlayer.
Under Moyer's leadership, the court:
- Started the Off-Site Court program after taking office in 1987. The Court visits two local counties per year, and educates high school students about the judiciary. The Court has visited 50 counties, offering a chance to view proceedings to 28,000 Ohioans – 22,000 of whom are high school students.
- Revamped, in 1989, the statistical case reporting system for judges in the Rules of Superintendence (Sup.R. 37 Appendix A) to increase the accuracy and efficiency of reporting. Created a separate statistical case reporting section at the Court.
- Amended, in 1996, the Rules for the Government of the Bar to create a process requiring lawyer referral services to register with the Court so the Court can facilitate public access to lawyers by placing this information on its Web site (see http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/Lawyer_Referral/referral/default.asp).
- Revamped, in 2002, the rules governing the Rules for the Reporting of Opinions in Ohio to standardize the publication of opinions from the Supreme Court and the courts of appeals to increase public access and availability written opinions.
- Began, in March 2004, broadcasting live all Supreme Court Oral Arguments on cable TV and on the Internet. The cable signal reaches more than 5 million homes across Ohio. Ohio's courts are among only a small number of courts in the United States that broadcast all arguments live. All cases are also archived on the Internet.
- Put the Attorney Registration Database online in 2004 so citizens can access information about any Ohio attorney, including business address and phone number, date of birth, date of admission to practice, disciplinary history and CLE status.
- Put the entire docket online in 2005, allowing anyone at anytime to check the status of a case, learn about new filings, and locate counsel information.
- Began, in 2006, the closed-captioning of all oral arguments to facilitate access by deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens and to enable public access to unofficial transcripts of all proceedings in a searchable database. Ohio is one of only two state courts in the country with this service.
- In October 2009 declined to hear the ramifications of a lawsuit written by Ohio Special Counsel against a sole family provider of care of the appellant's mother. This arose in Ohio probate and concerned a cabin over which Ohio Probate lacks jurisdiction.