Articles - Sharon L. Kennedy

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon L. Kennedy spoke to members of the Hillcrest Rotary Club during the March 18, 2014, meeting.

Justice Kennedy's keynote focused on the parallels found between the Rotary Code of Ethics and the American justice system.

Beginning with the first principle stated in Rotary's code—whether something will be beneficial to all concerned—Justice Kennedy pointed out that America's founding fathers took care to create a republic that would benefit all mankind.

She discussed their fundamental purpose to protect equality and "promote the general welfare" as explicitly stated in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The framework of government that followed was crafted to accomplish those goals, she said, and must be preserved.

"The Constitution guarantees the preservation of our republic by the balancing of power among three separate but co-equal branches," Justice Kennedy said.

Justice Kennedy is serving her first term on the Supreme Court of Ohio. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Justice Kennedy served on the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division from 1999 to 2012. Justice Kennedy served as the administrative judge there from 2005 until December 2012. Justice Kennedy began her career in the justice system as a police officer in Hamilton, Ohio. She received her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.