Opinion ID: 763120
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The state's allegedly inconsistent application of linkage

Text: 42 The class also challenges the district court's finding that the state has a substantial interest in the linkage of a court's jurisdiction to the judge's electoral district. In response, the state explains that jurisdiction-wide accountability helps insulate judges from the pressures of special interest groups and particular segments of the electorate. Judges, the state claims, must avoid being accountable to only a certain segment of those persons over whom the court's jurisdiction extends, for fear that such a system would give the appearance of favoritism. 43 The class claims that in evaluating the totality of the circumstances, the district court gave too much weight to Ohio's alleged interest. This is especially true, it says, because the state is inconsistent in its application of the policy. In support of this argument, the class points out that some municipal courts are county-wide, while others are municipally based. Although the class correctly describes the court systems of the several counties, the state established that the principle of linkage is nevertheless consistently applied within those jurisdictions. We concur in the district court's conclusion that the state of Ohio has a legitimate interest in linkage, and find no error in its discussion of this issue.