We have the right to impartial judiciary

Many thanks to The Dispatch for reminding us of the important role our courts play in our democracy and for reminding the judicial branch of its obligation to be accountable.

In the July 31 editorial “Secretly clearing justice not reassuring,’’ the newspaper chided an appeals court panel for dismissing an ethics complaint against Ohio Supreme Court Associate Justice Sharon Kennedy without telling the public the reasoning behind the dismissal or the identities of the judges responsible for it.

The complaint centered on Kennedy’s decision to headline a March fundraiser for Greater Toledo Right to Life just days after the state’s high court agreed to hear an appeal on a case that could close Toledo’s last abortion clinic.

Appellate judges who reviewed the ethics complaint against Kennedy disagreed with its assertion that her speech violated a requirement for judges to “act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” Unfortunately, the public does not know the rationale for tossing out the complaint.

Gov. John Kasich and his legislative allies have closed half the state’s abortion clinics and added 19 unnecessary restrictions. In tossing out similar restrictions in Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court listened to medical experts who said the restrictions hurt women by putting abortion services out of reach for too many.

Ohio’s executive and legislative branches clearly disregard the well-being of women to score political points. The judicial branch has opened itself to the same criticism.

Jane Larson Dublin