All rights reserved. The court made 74 rulings on issues in 56 cases involving those attorneys. While the court firmly denies any connection between its decisions and campaign contributions, such figures feed the debate about the potential of money to influence justice. Contributors in many instances admit as much. They think a judge will be more friendly to their issues.
Justices reject any correlation between political donations and court rulings.
Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer noted that the winning lawyer might not be the only political donor involved in the dispute. Recently, several groups have harshly criticized the justices in separate reports. But the potential for political influence in the justice system has been a longstanding concern. The Citizens Committee on Judicial Elections reported in 1995 that nine out of 10 Ohioans believed campaign contributions influenced judicial decisions. And the unease extends beyond Ohio.