Mary DeGenaro
Republican | Ohio
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mary DeGenaro
Party
Republican
Election Year
2018
Election
General
Race
Supreme Court Justice - term beginning Jan. 2
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Cleveland State University, Cleveland, JD, 1986
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, BA, 1983
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, Board Member, Mahoning Valley Historical Society
Vice-President, Ohio Women's Bar Association, Vice-President
St. Thomas More Society, Member, Farm Bureau
Member, Federalist Society, Member
Ohio Judicial Conference, Co-Chair Ethics & Professionalism Committee, Ohio Civility Consortium
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Ohio 7th District Court of Appeals, 2001-17
Poland Village Council, 1998-2001
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Buckeye Firearms Association-Ohio
Ohio Society of CPAs
LIBERAL (1)
Matriots
OTHER (1)
Ohio State Medical Association PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Ohio State Medical Association
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business
Ohio Manufacturers Association
Ohio Farm Bureau
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Republican Women's Organizations
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (5)
Kimberly Poma
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations
Republican Women's Organizations
Votes for Women
William L. "Bill" Johnson
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Neutral
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Neutral
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Neutral
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Neutral
George Washington's comment that “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society” is still true today.
Agree
The U.S. Constitution and my state constitution should be interpreted as living documents, rather than using a strict constructionist or originalist approach in judicial decisions.
Disagree
There are times when American judges should alter U.S. case law in order to comply with foreign case law.
Disagree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Disagree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2010 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2012 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The Founders understood that most people will live their lives without violating the rights of others and work for the common good. But they also understood based upon history and their experience under a monarchy, where too much power is consolidated in one person, individual natural rights, both collectively and individually, can be violated.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Practicing Roman Catholic.
Which current U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Even though he has passed, Antonin Scalia.
Which U.S. president serving after 1960 best reflects your political philosophy?
N/A
What is the proper use of legislative history in interpreting statutory law?
I am a textualist when interpreting statutes. Thus, legislative history should be used very sparingly if at all. When interpreting part of a statute a justice should look at the entire statute and/or the section of the Ohio Revised Code the statute at issue is contained in. That is the most reliable source of what the Legislature intended.
What specific text in the Declaration of Independence provides the critical basis for individual rights and the form of government guaranteed in the United States Constitution?
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" And of the rights of the colonists that the Crown violated: "He has obstructed the Administration of Justice...[and] made Judges dependent on his Will alone..."
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges allowing members of the same sex to marry, which justice’s opinion in that case most closely approximates your understanding of marriage?
no answer
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
No Answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
As a justice I took an oath to defend the Constitution, to follow the law and to fairly and impartially decide every case before me; not to make policy decisions or make law but only to interpret the law. Judicial conduct rules prohibit me as a justice from making statements that could give the appearance that I have a set opinion on an issue, or from making political policy statements. That is why I have answered neutral or given no answer to questions above, because they involve issues that can come before me, or are political questions better suited to executive or legislative branch candidates.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I served 17 years on the 7th District Court of Appeals covering 8 urban, suburban and rural counties before I was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court, and have experience dealing with every type of issue that will come before me as a Justice. Previously I sat with the Court by assignment on 10 cases as well as almost half of the other Appellate Districts, and I gain daily experience on the Court. Thus I have deep and broad experience of appellate decision makingand working collegially with judicial colleagues. I also have 17 years of public service off the bench promoting civility, civic education and literacy, especially through my work on my local library and historical society boards and the statewide civility consortium. I also am a founding board member of the Ohio State Bar Association's Appellate Practice Specialty Board, which certifies attorney's specializing in appellate law.
In what areas of law have you practiced?
As an appellate judge I have heard civil, criminal and administrative appeals covering every issue imaginable. I have sat on over 3,000 cases and written over 1,200 majority and minority opinions in those cases.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
Campaign@DeGenaroForJustice.com
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am humbled by the Governor's decision to appoint me to the Supreme Court. I will continue to serve on this court, on and off the bench, as I have for 17 years on the Court of Appeals. Public service is a privilege, not a right, and I will continue to make my case to my fellow Ohioans that I will serve them honorably, diligently, fairly and impartially. My husband and I have 2 adult sons, one is married, one is engaged. I enjoy reading, cooking for family and friends and beekeeping.
