Vote No on Issue 1
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Political Issues, Social Issues
Ballot initiatives and walking the tightrope of politics and religion
This post comes from my friend, Rev. Tim Ahrens, a strong advocate for social justice. In 1912, it was just called “The Initiative.” The Initiative represented the constitutional right of all Ohioans to shape fair and equitable laws through the ballot box of initiatives and referenda. The Ohio Progressive Republican League helped establish this constitutional
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Social Issues
Bishop can’t speak the truth and is blind to reality
Why is it Bishop Earl Fernandes cannot speak the truth? In the May 28 edition of the Dispatch, he again denied that he forced the Paulist priests to leave the Newman Center last year and repeated the fiction they “chose to leave.” The Paulists left because Fernandes would allow them to stay—just two, not all
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Social Issues
Rapist case shows how court shouldn’t work
Last December, the Ohio Supreme Court in Brandt v. Pompa changed its position on a 2005 statute, Senate Bill 80, that caps non-economic damages—think pain and suffering. More stunning is how the case brings to light the politics in judicial decisions. Amanda Brandt had been sexually abused as a middle schooler by Roy Pompa, now
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Judges
Win at any cost politics has unqualified ruling courts
We’re seeing two trends in how judicial posts are filled, and neither is good. The state court bench is moving away from the tradition of judges having been the senior attorneys in a community. Having practiced law for several years, they were seasoned, tested and wise. But younger lawyers are now running, and the political
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Social Issues
Bishop gave Paulists an offer they couldn’t accept
In June 2021, when Catholic Archbishop José H. Gomez stated that President Joe Biden should not receive Communion because he is pro-choice, I wrote in an opinion piece, “Every day, someone in the Catholic Church’s hierarchy wakes up and says, ‘What can we do today to show how out of touch we are with our
Bishop gave Paulists an offer they couldn’t accept Read Post »
Uncategorized
The “inner beast” has taken control of Ohio, America
The comic strip character Pogo from 50 years ago had it right. “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Our own ego and self-interest are defeating us. Ego is crippling. We think we know more than experts and can disregard their guidance. Former law school professor James McElhaney cautioned attorneys about letting ego—Mongo,
The “inner beast” has taken control of Ohio, America Read Post »
Social Issues
The problem with police investigative stops—police abuse or citizen non-compliance?
What does the law say about a police officer’s obligations when stopping and questioning someone for possible criminal conduct? What does a police officer have to consider before making the stop? Does racial bias enter the equation? Are citizens required to comply? How is it that sometimes these stops end with violence, sometimes a shooting?
The problem with police investigative stops—police abuse or citizen non-compliance? Read Post »
Political Issues
Seitz, LaRose, Paduchik attacks on O’Connor undermine justice
In a guest column published on March 25, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner cautioned against attacks on the judiciary because they undermine confidence in the courts. In his guest column the following week, Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party Bob Paduchik criticized Brunner being a thin-skinned politician. Can both perspectives be right? Brunner’s guest
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Uncategorized
Our new podcast, “JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo”
My law partner, John Gonzales (“Gonzo”), and I (Jack D’Aurora) have been producing a podcast for about two years. We’ve changed our image—our marketing folks call this “rebranding”— from “Lawyer Up Columbus” to “JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo” to better reflect what our show is all about—social justice. We talk with our guests about subjects
Our new podcast, “JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo” Read Post »
Tort Reform
Law denies justice to woman raped repeatedly as a child
Roy Pompa faces a civil judgment for $114,250,00 for having sexually abused Amanda Brandt 34 times when she was a middle schooler. The abuse came during sleepovers at Pompa’s house when Amanda was a guest of Pompa’s daughter. Pompa is serving a life sentence for child rape, and he’s now being represented before the Ohio
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Social Issues
State board of education makes case for critical race theory
If you don’t know what critical race theory (CRT) is, don’t feel bad. Neither do the folks in charge of K-12 education in Ohio. Let’s go back to July 2020 when the Ohio State Board of Education passed “a resolution to condemn racism.” Acknowledging disparities in the education system for students of color and whites,
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