Ohio AFL-CIO Endorses Judges Brunner and O’Donnell for Supreme Court

For Immediate Release                          

Ohio AFL-CIO Endorses Judges Brunner and O’Donnell for Supreme Court

President Burga: Working people need justice, protection on highest court 

(Columbus, Ohio) – The Ohio AFL-CIO today announced that it has unanimously endorsed Judge Jennifer Brunner and Judge John O’Donnell for Ohio Supreme Court.  Judge Brunner currently serves in the Tenth District Court of Appeals in Franklin County, Ohio and is a former Ohio Secretary of State.  Judge O’Donnell currently serves on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.  Both are running for the two seats up for election on November 3rd. 

“We proudly endorse Judge Brunner and Judge O’Donnell for Ohio Supreme Court because they are both outstanding jurists with a strong commitment to justice for the working people of our great state,” said Ohio AFL-CIO President Burga.  “Now more than ever, we need to know that we are electing judges that will protect the rights of working people at the highest level.  By electing Judge Brunner and Judge O’Donnell we can ensure the interests of all Ohioans will be represented on the bench in these uncertain times,” he said.  “Given the enormity of the challenges that working people currently face, we will need the commitment they will bring to the court.” 

“I am grateful for the endorsement of the Ohio AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the United States and in Ohio,” said Judge Brunner.  “Having worked closely with the Ohio AFL-CIO and many of its unions over the last 25 years, I understand well the guiding principles of the labor movement--when working people join together in solidarity to organize and collectively bargain, they not only achieve better lives--they make our communities stronger,” she said.  

“It is with humility and pride that I accept the Ohio AFL-CIO’s endorsement of my campaign for the Ohio Supreme Court,” said Judge John O’Donnell.  “Humble because it represents the support of the hundreds of thousands of hard working Ohioans represented by the organization in their struggle to improve their families’ lives, and proud because my campaign to be an independent voice on the court continues to gain momentum as voters recognize that change is overdue,” he said.  

The Ohio AFL-CIO consists of 1.1 million union members and retirees who are affiliated through 41 international unions and 1,500 local unions.