Many in black community see Judge John O'Donnell as unworthy of Ohio Supreme Court seat

Cleveland Ward 9 Councilman Kevin Conwell, Bishop Eugene Ward and a cadre of activists gathered yesterday at the GlenVillage amphitheater on East 105^th St. and Ashbury Ave. in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood to denounce the endorsement by the state and county Democratic parties of Judge John P. O’Donnell for the Ohio Supreme Court in this year’s race.

“With Judge O’Donnell, the Democrats are taking us for granted,” said Conwell. “We’re telling our people to march to the polls. We cannot put Judge O’Donnell on the court after he allowed Brelo to go free.”

O’Donnell was the judge in the trial of Michael Brelo, the Cleveland police officer charged in the “137 shots” case for shooting Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams on November 29, 2012, at the conclusion of a 22-minute police chase which started in downtown Cleveland and ended in the parking lot of Heritage Middle School in East Cleveland.

Thirteen police officers fired 137 shots into the automobile, killing Russell and Williams, but only Brelo, who stood on the hood of the car and fired down into the windshield, was charged.

Brelo waived a jury trial in the case, putting his fate in the hands of the judge. O’Donnell found Brelo not guilty, reading a 34-page opinion from the bench that the community has hotly contested ever since.

“Do not vote for Judge O’Donnell. They’re going to be mad at me for going against the ticket but...”, Conwell continued, “we’re putting together a committee to make sure our community knows. We cannot accept this.”

Fred Ward, president of FIINPAC (Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Necessary PAC), said, “I was in the courtroom during the ‘137 shots’ trial. I saw the condescending attitudes. I’m asking all who care about justice to not support Judge O’Donnell. He shouldn’t be on the bench at all. That’s my official word.”

Mariah Crenshaw, lead researcher at Chasing Justice, LLC, agreed. “We not only need to not vote for him, he needs to withdraw for the race. We don’t reward bad behavior,” she said, arguing that O’Donnell exhibited unethical behavior during the trial.

Bishop Ward said, “We continue to be exploited as a people. We’re not concerned about Democrat or Republican. We’re concerned about justice. [Brelo] fired 49 bullets out of one gun. You cannot continue to ask for elevation and don’t know how to treat people.”

Crenshaw also talked about “prosecutorial accountability,” saying all the officers should have been charged. “Let’s be real about what happened in that case.”  

Activist Richard Jones echoed Crenshaw on “prosecutorial accountability.” He said the prosecutor set the case up for Judge O’Donnell to rule the way he did.  

Activist Al Porter said the Democratic leaders who are upholding O’Donnell don’t deserve to hold onto their seats either.

A spokesman for the committee said they will be meeting with groups from Akron, Youngstown, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo. He urged everyone to, “Call five people you know and tell them to not vote for Judge O’Donnell. Call them every week.”

Conwell led a similar effort against O'Donnell in 2016 that had measurable success.

“I feel insulted that the Democratic Party didn’t give us anybody else,” said Conwell. “You can’t let somebody go for killing black folk and expect us to vote for you.”

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