Judge Melody Stewart, a Democrat on the Eighth District Court of Appeals in Cleveland, will challenge DeGenaro. Stewart, 55, was first elected to the court in 2006 and has served as a visiting justice on the Ohio Supreme Court. Stewart is a member of the Ohio Criminal Justice Recodification Committee, a panel that is examining and suggesting updates to Ohio's criminal code. Stewart earned a bachelor of music degree from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a law degree from Cleveland Marshall. READ MORE>>

COLUMBUS — Ohio Democrats have two top-notch candidates for state Supreme Court in 2018, with Appellate Court Judge Melody J. Stewart and Common Pleas Court Judge Michael P. Donnelly filing their petitions today to run for Ohio’s highest court. “It’s time to take politics out of the Ohio Supreme Court, restore balance and elect justices who understand Ohioans’ real lives and economic challenges,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper. “The Court needs the best and most capable jurists, and Judge Melody Stewart and Judge Michael Donnelly bring extensive experience — both in the courtroom and in the community — to the bench.” Elected to the Ohio Court of Appeals’ Eighth Appellate Di