Senators Portman and Brown Name Vorys Partners to Bipartisan Commission for Recommendations on Candidates for Judicial Vacancies

U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) recently announced the members of the bipartisan judiciary advisory commission that will assist them in identifying the best candidates to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio. Elizabeth T. Smith, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was selected as the chair the 28 member commission. Fred Ransier, also a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was selected as a member of the committee.

The Southern District has court locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton and serves more than five million Ohioans in 48 counties. The Northern District has court locations in Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown and serves approximately 5.9 million citizens of the 40 northernmost counties in Ohio.

The bipartisan advisory commission process was first established by Sen. Brown and former U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), and Sens. Portman and Brown have carried on the tradition. The president nominates U.S. district court judges based on recommendations from U.S. senators. Nominees must then be confirmed by the full U.S. Senate. Federal district courts are general trial courts that hear both civil and criminal cases.

To read a release about the creation of the commission, visit Sen. Portman’s website.