Justice Melody Stewart & Justice Joseph Deters

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Disclaimer: As judicial candidates often refrain from publicly stating their positions on specific issues, we've examined their financial backers—especially those with strong views on potential court matters—to provide insight into their possible leanings.

Justice Melody Stewart

Democrat

Justice Joseph Deters

Republican

 

Health Care

  • Justice Melody Stewart has received an endorsement from the Black Women’s Political Action Committee [1], a Cleveland-area group focused on politically engaging black women to improve health and welfare [2]. 

  • In 2023, Stewart joined a majority opinion on the state’s Supreme Court, dismissing an appeal to lift the pause on Ohio’s six-week abortion ban [3]. The Ohio Democratic Party celebrated Stewart as a candidate who will “protect our fundamental freedoms – including abortion rights [4].” 


    Stewart’s supporters have led efforts to protect the rights to abortion and contraception [5] by voting for legislation to establish the right to obtain birth control and protect the right to IVF and other fertility treatments [6].

  • Research could not find a clear stance on healthcare for Justice Joseph Deters.

  • As a prosecutor, Justice Joseph Deters declined to sign a pledge not to press charges against abortion providers or patients after Roe v. Wade was overturned. He indicated he would enforce an abortion ban, saying, “When prosecutors do not follow their oath, it will promote lawlessness and challenge the basic structures of separation of powers. [1]” Justice Deters was also a defendant in a lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio against an Ohio state statute regarding the use of mifepristone in medically induced abortion [2]. 

Working Families

  • Stewart’s supporters have consistently fought for working families, including voting for a $15/hour minimum wage [7] and supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act to strengthen the Equal Rights Act [8]. Furthermore, Stewart’s 2018 election bid garnered extensive support from numerous unions around Ohio, including the Ohio AFL-CIO, SEIU District 1199, USW, UAW, AFSCME, UFCW Local 75, IBEW Local 38, Laborers Local 500, and Heat & First INsulators Local 3 [9]. 

  • Research could not find a clear stance on economic security for Justice Melody Stewart.

  • Justice Joseph Deters, as a prosecutor in Hamilton County, requested an opinion from then-Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine on whether cities could set a minimum wage higher than the state’s minimum wage. This request for an opinion came in the wake of Cincinnati’s City Council passing a $15/hour wage for city employees [3].

    Deters donated thousands to former California Representative Dana Rohrabacher. Rohrabacher voted against the Fair Minimum Wage Act in 2007, which raised the federal minimum wage to $7.25/hour [4]. 

  • Additionally, Deters contributed thousands to former California Representative Rohrabacher, who told a group of realtors that homeowners should be able to refuse to sell to gay and lesbian buyers and said that racism shouldn’t be allowed, but “a homeowner should not be required to be in business with someone they think is doing something immoral [5].”

Child Care

  • Stewart’s backers have prioritized legislation to provide all Ohioians with affordable, high-quality child care and pre-K and to improve access to affordable child care in rural communities [10]. 

    The Child Care for Working Families Act would ensure that no families below 150% of the state median income pay more than 7% of their income on child care [11]. Stewart’s supporters backed this act and a domestic spending bill that would provide $16 billion in assistance to childcare providers [12]. 

  • Research could not find a clear stance on childcare for Justice Joseph Deters.

Social Security

  • Research could not find a clear stance on Social Security for Justice Melody Stewart.

  • Research could not find a clear stance on Social Security for Justice Joseph Deters.

Criminal Justice Reform

  • Justice Melody Stewart, a member of the Ohio Criminal Justice Recodification Committee [13], opposes the death penalty [14] and has criticized police departments for delaying body camera footage [15]. Democrats have called for sentencing reform surrounding drug offenses and supported federal marijuana decriminalization [16].

  • Justice Joseph Deters has a strong pro-death penalty stance and also supports the use of the electric chair and firing squads for execution [6]. Deters referred to police violence against African Americans as a “false narrative [7].” He said reducing sentences because of systemic racism hurt the black community and called criminal justice reform activists” dishonest brokers [8].”

Education

  • The Ohio Education Association, Ohio Federation of Teachers, and Ohio Association of Public School Employees have endorsed Justice Melody Stewart [17]. She is also supported by politicians who have fought against Ohio’s private for-profit schools [18]. These educational systems take funds away from public schools and fight for charter school accountability. 

  • Justice Joseph Deters supporters spearheaded a “backpack bill” that creates a universal voucher program, allowing every student in Ohio to access school vouchers [9], contributing to the underfunding of Ohio’s public schools. Ohio’s Legislative Service Commission said this bill could cost the state $1.13 billion in the first year alone [10]. 

Election Reform

  • Justice Melody Stewart wrote the majority opinion, striking down illegitimate legislative maps drawn by the Ohio Redistricting Commission [19]. The majority held that the maps did not correspond with historical voter preferences or attempt to comply with constitutional requirements. She also joined the majority in a Congressional redistricting case, ruling that Republican-drawn maps were unconstitutional [20]. Stewart is supported by politicians who voted to protect and expand voting rights nationwide, requiring super PACs to make their donors public [21].

  • Gerrymandering is a gross misuse of power by politicians. Justice Joseph Deters’ decision to dismiss the recent redistricting lawsuits has resulted in Republicans gaining an unfair advantage in 61 of 99 House districts and 23 of 33 Senate districts [11]. 

Footnotes