| Yvette McGee Brown | |
|---|---|
| Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Maureen O'Connor |
| Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio | |
| In office 1993–2002 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Columbus, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Tony Brown |
| Profession | Social worker, politician |
| Religion | Baptist |
Yvette McGee Brown (born 1960, Columbus, Ohio) became the first African-American female justice on the Ohio Supreme Court when she took office on January 1, 2011.[1] She was the founding president of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and was a judge of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
Brown serves on the boards of Ohio University[2], The Ohio State University, the Columbus Academy and the Community Shelter Board. She currently serves on the boards of M/I Homes, Inc. and Fifth Third Bank of Central Ohio.
In 2008, Brown was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. She is noted for a number of community service awards, public service, and her dedication to child and family protection.
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Brown received her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Ohio University; her Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law; an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Ohio Dominican University; and an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.[3]
Brown was the founding President of the non-profit Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, an organization dedicated to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and domestic violence, since 2002.[4] She serves on the boards of Ohio University, The Ohio State University Medical Center, the Columbus Academy and the Community Shelter Board. She also serves on the boards of M/I Homes, Inc. and Fifth Third Bank of Central Ohio.[5]
On December 10, 2010, Governor Ted Strickland appointed Brown to The Ohio Supreme Court effective January 1, 2011, to fill the remainder of the term of Associate Justice Maureen O'Connor, who was elected chief justice November 2 .[6] The term ends December 31, 2012.
Brown is a member of the Democratic Party.
Judge Brown served in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court. She was the first American of African Ancestry and the second woman to be elected to this court. First elected in 1993, she retired in 2002 to develop the Center for Child and Family Advocacy.
On January 19, 2010, Governor Ted Strickland announced that he had chosen Yvette McGee Brown as his running mate for his second term, replacing Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, who was departing the post to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican George Voinovich.[7]
She was one of the numerous speakers at President Barack Obama's rally in Columbus, Ohio shortly before the midterm election, immediately preceding singer John Legend's performance and speaking alongside other Ohio politicians such as Governor Ted Strickland, Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, and former astronaut and U.S. Senator from Ohio John Glenn. The rally had thousands in attendance. President Obama's speech that night had excerpts aired on MSNBC. [8]
Brown would have become the fourth female lieutenant governor and the second American of African Ancestry lieutenant governor in Ohio history. The Strickland/Brown ticket lost to John Kasich and his running mate Mary Taylor on November 2, 2010.
Brown was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 2008. She has been honored for her community service with many awards. Most notably, she has won the Public Service Award from Ohio University; The Medal of Merit Alumni Award for Ohio University; the Distinguished Service Award from The Ohio State University; the William Oxley Thompson Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement Award from The Ohio State University Alumni Association; the Champion of Children Award; and the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award.[9]
Yvette McGee Brown was born in urban Columbus to a single teen-age mother. Yvette was raised by her mother and a grandmother, and the importance of education was stressed to her as she grew up. She is married to Anthony Brown. They have three children. During her campaign for lieutenant governor of Ohio, she referred to her grandmother, who advised her to "Go run, tell that!", when others were talking about her. She told voters to "go run" and "tell" others about the facts of the Strickland-Brown 2010 governor-lieutenant governor campaign.
| Non-profit organization positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title | President of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy 2002-2010 |
Succeeded by Karen Days |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Lee Fisher |
Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio 2010 |
Most recent |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Maureen O'Connor |
Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court 2011-present |
Incumbent |
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