COLUMBUS, Ohio — Less than a year since she was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court, Associate Justice Jennifer Brunner announced greater aspirations Tuesday when it comes to the bench.

Brunner made it known she wants to be the next Chief Justice.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio Supreme Court Associate Justice Jennifer Brunner announced she plans on running for chief justice

  • An age limit will prevent Republican Maureen O'Connor from running again for the position

  • Justices Pat DeWine and Sharon Kennedy are two Republicans expected to enter the race as well

Republican Maureen O'Connor, who has been Chief Justice since 2011 and has been on the court since 2003, will be leaving at the end of next year because age limits prevent her from running again.

Brunner said it is clear why she is running.

"I love the law, I love justice and I love public service,” said Brunner. “And I know that if I can do what I do now, but in an expanded platform as Chief Justice, there is a lot of good I can do for that period of time in Ohio that I am given the privilege to do public service to make people's lives better and I will do everything in my power to do that.” 

A Democrat has not served as Chief Justice since Eric Brown in 2010.

​Brunner, who is one of four Democrats to hold statewide office, is the first Democrat to announce her intent to run for Chief Justice in 2022.

She previously served as Secretary of State and as a judge in Franklin County and the 10th District Court of Appeals.

Her win against former Justice Judith French last November narrowed the court to a 4-3 conservative margin.

Justices Pat DeWine and Sharon Kennedy are two Republicans expected to enter the race as well.

"Voters will have a choice between two distinct judicial philosophies in the race for Chief Justice next year,” DeWine said in a statement. “Do Ohioans want a Chief Justice who will uphold the law as written and not legislate from the bench, or do they want an activist judiciary? I look forward to continuing to travel the state and outlining my vision for an Ohio Supreme Court committed to our constitutional principles."

Kennedy wished her fellow justice well.

“Obviously, I wish my colleague well,” Kennedy said in a text message to Spectrum News. “And hope that the politics of the election remains beyond the hallways of the Supreme Court of Ohio and the important work we do on behalf of Ohioans.”​​