|
The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Qualifications,
Addressing priorities,
Adminstration
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
|
1. What are your qualifications for office? (50 word limit)
|
Answer from Heather S. Russell:
6 years Hamilton County Municipal Court (elected judge);
17 years Hamilton County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney;
Chief, Hamilton County Grand Jury (1999-2001);
First female team leader, Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office;
Elected to Loveland City Council, 1999-2001
Answer from Greg Cohen:
I have been a trial lawyer for nearly fourteen years. I have tried over 100 criminal and civil jury trials and dozens of other trials and legal matters in both state and federal courts in four states. I can also bring 18 years of non-legal work experience to the bench.
|
2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)
|
Answer from Heather S. Russell:
To continue the procedures that I began 6 years ago when first elected to the bench; that is, to continue to attend judicial seminars to keep abreast of current issues in the law, and to look for ways to improve the efficiency of my own courtroom, as well as the overall system of justice in our court system.
Answer from Greg Cohen:
My first priority is to use my legal and non-legal experience to fashion proper sentences for offenders. Life experiences have taught me that full employment or education are the keys to success and avoidance of re-offending.
My second priority is to change the way cases are set on the criminal docket. I would separate my docket to ensure that police officer and witness time is not wasted.
My third priority is to adopt practices used in other jurisdictions. These include the collection of fines and costs by the Court and the establishment of a DUI court similar to drug court.
|
3. What specific changes would you like to see in the administration of justice in Hamilton County? (150 word limit)
|
Answer from Heather S. Russell:
We need a new jail! Hamilton County is in the top tier of communities in the nation for our level of treatment programs. These programs can only be effective if we have the discipline to enforce our own rules, and incarcerate an individual who fails to comply with the rules of treatment. I see individuals who fail to appear in court, or who fail to appear for treatment, because they know that there is no room in the jail to enforce the full consequences of these failures to follow the rules.
Answer from Greg Cohen:
I have stated above that I want to establish some docket changes. Specifically, I would establish an 8:00 docket for fines and costs review, a 9:00 docket for trials,an 11:00 docket for pretrials and probation violations and an 1:00 on specified days for motions to suppress.
I want to establish a DUI docket to handle repeat DUI offenders. I would base the docket on the drug court model which calls for the Judge to be involved in the treatment and rehabilitation process.
I want a court that is more open to civil matters. I would have a pretrial conference with civil litigants prior to referring a matter to a magistrate.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
| 
League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
