Terri Jamison

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court | 2013-2021

I presided over and issued rulings in bench trials and hearings for division of assets for divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, post-decree motions, contempt hearings, civil protection orders, objections to magistrate's decisions, termination of parental rights, delinquency probable cause hearings, motions in limine, while meeting timeliness requirements of the Supreme Court. 

Court of Appeals, Tenth District | 2021-present

As an intermediate level appellate judge, preside over appeals from all lower trial courts, municipal, common pleas, and county courts, to hear applications for writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, procedendo, prohibition and quo warranto. The Tenth District Court of Appeals in Franklin County, where I'm currently a judge, also hears appeals from the Ohio Court of Claims. 

https://tenthdistrictcourt.org/About/Members-of-the-Bench/Judge-Terri-Jamison

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Question 2

What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?

I owned and managed a multi-line insurance agency for 16 years. In that capacity, I hired, trained, and developed staff, managed and reconciled receipts, negotiated contracts for office space, phone systems, computer equipment, and grew a book of business while maintaining quality. I have great people skills that translate into treating litigants with empathy, dignity and respect. I have active listening skills that developed from listening to potential clients to be sure that I was meeting their policy needs.

I was an extern with the Civil Rights Section of the Attorney General's Office. In that capacity, I learned how to review a case file, prepare it for court, and prepare the discovery documents to illicit information. I have developed a critical eye and can do analysis of the law and facts.

I was a hearing officer intern for the Bureau of State Hearings while in law school hearing appeals for Job and Family Services OWF benefits.  As an intermittent for the State of Ohio, UCRC Hearing Officer, I conducted administrative law hearings to determine whether an individual is entitled to unemployment benefits at the appeals level pursuant to Administrative Rule 3301-73-09. I Administer oaths and affirmations; Examine parties and witnesses; Direct parties and witnesses to testify; Make rulings on the admissibility of evidence; Make rulings on procedural motions, whether such motions are oral or written; Hold pre-hearing conferences; Request briefs before, during or following the hearing, as well as suggested findings, orders, and conclusions of law within such time limits as the hearing officer may determine; Prepare entries, findings, orders, or reports and recommendations; Request preparation of entries, findings, or orders; Issue instructions as to how the proceeding is to be conducted in the event of a virtual hearing; Rule on any challenges to a witness' competence, capacity or identity; Order issuance of subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum compelling the attendance of witnesses at hearings and depositions testimony and the production of evidence for hearings; maintained timeliness in issuing decisions.

 

https://www.web.ucrc.state.oh.us/HIC/How-Hearings-Are-Conducted.pdf

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Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

First, to preserve and strengthen the Court’s Constitutionally granted status as an
independent and co-equal branch of state government, and Second, to use my seat
on the Supreme Court to ensure that the promise of “Equal Justice Under Law”
becomes a reality for all Ohioans. I am a judge who believes in public service, democracy and have the experience in courts around the state of Ohio, U. S. District Court, Southern District, and have served on the courts in Ohio with the largest dockets, and I am prepared for this job. I've been called by Chief Justice to sit on the Supreme Court and understand the immense responsibility and purpose in the position.

The importance of an independent Court has been demonstrated as the court defends democracy and upholds the express will of the people by deflecting attempts to redistrict the state’s General Assembly and Congressional districts. It is imperative that a justice that believes strongly in democracy and the impartiality of the court is elected to the court. The court is the keeper of the scales, the check and balance on other branches of government. 

In the months and years ahead, cases involving reproductive, civil, human and
worker’s rights, racial justice, public safety, voting, access to the judicial system, the
criminal sentencing database, taxation and the economy, education, the environment,
privacy, and other weighty issues will come before the Court. The judicial philosophy, beliefs, and principles of the justices who hear thosecases will determine their outcome and shape the society in which we live. The Court’s power to profoundly impact the lives of Ohioans has too often been
overlooked by many or undervalued.

To convert “Equal Justice Under Law” from concept to reality, I will work hard every
day to restore public trust in our legal system, to abide by and to hold others to the
highest possible ethical standards, to dispense justice fairly and equitably, to strive to
ensure that all persons have access to the courts and competent legal counsel, to set an
example for jurists at every level of our court system, to take affirmative steps to ensure
that every litigant is provided with a fair hearing and the opportunity to be heard.

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