The YPN welcomes Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor to the Young Professionals Network Speaker Series luncheon. Chief Justice O'Connor will provide valuable insight and advice to young professionals looking to make their professional mark, as well as share her personal story to how she became Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Registration, networking and lunch will begin at 11:30 am followed by the presentation at noon.
Maureen O’Connor’s election to the Supreme Court in 2002 created its first female majority. Ohio’s voters reelected her in 2008 in a landslide victory in which she carried every one of Ohio’s 88 counties and took approximately 68% of the vote. Two years later, the voters of Ohio again demonstrated their faith in her judgment, management, and honesty, electing her the first female Chief Justice in Ohio’s history by a 2 to 1 margin over her challenger. She again carried every county in Ohio. Her election to the Chief Justice’s office marks the latest achievement in a long and distinguished career of public service.
Chief Justice O’Connor gained invaluable experience as an attorney, magistrate, and common pleas court judge. Despite those successes, she felt compelled to return to the front lines of protecting the public. She became the Summit County Prosecuting Attorney and aggressively prosecuted repeat offenders, violent criminals, and public officials who committed ethical violations or improprieties, and lobbied for tougher laws on rape and gang-related offences. Her untiring work earned accolades from victims’ rights groups and educational institutions.
The people of Ohio also recognized her talents and dedication, electing her lieutenant governor. She simultaneously served as Director of the Department of Public Safety and chaired various security task forces. Her experience proved invaluable in the wake of the 9/11 attacks when she led the State’s response to terrorism and garnered the praise of federal homeland security officials.
Chief Justice O’Connor continues to work for justice and for a safe and secure Ohio. In addition to hearing the cases presented to the court, she devotes herself to court management initiatives and assisting local courts using the resources of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice O’Connor has established the Task Force on the Funding of Ohio Courts to examine the way courts are funded and to identify innovative means to secure courts’ operations in these challenging economic times. She also established the Joint Task Force to Review the Administration of Ohio's Death Penalty with the Ohio State Bar Association. This diverse and inclusive task force studies the application of the death penalty in Ohio and will make recommendations to the Court regarding its use. Chief Justice O’Connor has been elected by the Conference of Chief Justices to serve on its Board of Directors.
Chief Justice O’Connor has raised two adult sons, Alex and Ed Kipp, who both married lovely intelligent women, much to her surprise and delight.