Supreme Court of Ohio 2011 Annual Report

and looking forward to tackling the
important work we have ahead of
us in a collaborative manner with
her and the other members of the
court.”
Dozens of Justice McGee
Brown’s sorority sisters were in the
audience, and several members
of the leadership of the Alpha
Sigma Omega Chapter of the
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority made
a special presentation to Justice
McGee Brown at the conclusion of
the ceremony.
Gov. Strickland appointed
former Judge McGee Brown to
the Supreme Court seat vacated by
Chief Justice O’Connor when she
began her term as the head of the
judiciary.
Justice McGee Brown said she
was honored to join the court
during historic times. “I have
tremendous respect for the court
and the important role it has in
our democracy,” she said. “I am
humbled by this opportunity and
consider it a privilege to serve with
the other distinguished jurists on
the court.”
Justice McGee Brown follows
former Justices Robert M. Duncan
and Lloyd O. Brown as the third
African-American member of
Ohio’s high court and is the eighth
woman to serve on the court.
WATCH IT: Video of all of the swearing
in ceremonies is available on the Ohio
Channel website at www.ohiochannel.org.
Returning Justices
Sworn In to New Terms
Before hundreds of family, friends and guests, Justices
Paul E. Pfeifer and Judith Ann Lanzinger took the
ceremonial oath of office at a public Courtroom event
January 18.
Ohio voters re-elected Justices Pfeifer and Lanzinger on
November 2 to new six-year terms. Attorney Richard L. Cory,
a partner in the Bucyrus law firm Cory & Cory, administered
the oath to Justice Pfeifer, while Chief Justice O’Connor
administered the oath to Justice Lanzinger. Pfeifer, who has
served on the court since 1993, and Lanzinger, a member of
the court since 2005, began their fourth and second terms,
respectively. Each justice spoke of a desire to continue public
service careers that began long ago. “It’s hard to believe that
18 years have passed since I first joined the court,” Pfeifer
said.
“After 25 full years of serving in the judiciary, I can say
that my time on the Supreme Court has been the most
rewarding,” Justice Lanzinger said. “I am very blessed in
being able to work with my dedicated colleagues in this
beautiful building.”
Joining Justices Pfeifer and Lanzinger for the ceremony
were the other members of the court: Chief Justice O’Connor
and Justices Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Terrence O’Donnell,
Robert R. Cupp and Yvette McGee Brown. State leaders from
the executive branch attended the ceremony, including
Secretary of State Jon Husted and Auditor Dave Yost.
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