William O'Neill (Ohio judge)

For the former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, see Bill O'Neill (politician).
For the former Ohio Governor, see C. William O'Neill.
William M. O'Neill
Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2013
Preceded by Robert Cupp
Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals
In office
February 9, 1997 – June 30, 2007
Preceded by Joseph E. Mahoney
Succeeded by Timothy P. Cannon
Personal details
Born May 6, 1947
Cleveland, Ohio
Political party Democratic
Alma mater
Religion Roman Catholic

William "Bill" Michael O'Neill (born May 6, 1947) is an American lawyer, judge and political figure. He was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2012, for a term beginning January 2013. He served as an appellate judge on the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals for 10 years. Twice, O'Neill was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative in Ohio's 14th congressional district.

Education and military service

O'Neill graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1965 and Ohio University in 1969, at which point he joined the U.S. Army. He earned the Bronze Star in Vietnam and retired from the military in 2001 as a lieutenant colonel in the Ohio National Guard. With the help of the G.I. Bill, O'Neill graduated from Cleveland–Marshall College of Law in 1980.[1] He also graduated from Huron School of Nursing as a registered nurse.[2][3]

Political campaigns

1996 Ohio Court of Appeals campaign

In 1996, O'Neill won a seat on the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals with about 50% of the vote.[4][5] He served from 1997 to 2007, when he resigned to run for Congress.[1]

2004 Ohio Supreme Court Campaign

In a 2004 special election to finish the term of an Ohio Supreme Court justice who resigned, O'Neill lost to Terrence O'Donnell by 21%.[6]

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Terrence O'Donnell Republican 2,560,609 60.50%
William O'Neill Democratic Incumbent 1,860,801 39.50%

2006 Ohio Supreme Court Campaign

In 2006, O'Neill ran against O'Donnell again for a full-term on the Ohio Supreme Court. O'Neill lost again, by over 17%.[7]

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Terrence O'Donnell Republican 1,903,702 58.67%
William O'Neill Democratic Incumbent 1,341,258 41.33%

2008 Congressional campaign

O'Neill lost in his 2008 bid for Ohio's 14th congressional district seat to incumbent Steve LaTourette by nearly 20%.[8]

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Steve LaTourette Republican Incumbent 188,488 58.32%
William O'Neill Democratic 125,214 38.74%
David Macko Libertarian 9,511 2.94%[9]

2010 Congressional campaign

On February 6, 2010, O'Neill announced that he would be running again as the Democratic nominee for Ohio's 14th congressional district against LaTourette. O'Neill stated during his campaign his desire to expand the Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit rail system.[10][11][12] O'Neill lost the election by over 33%.[13]

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Steve LaTourette Republican Incumbent 149,878 64.92%
William O'Neill Democratic 72,604 31.45%
John Jelenic Libertarian 8,383 3.63%

2012 Ohio Supreme Court Campaign

In 2012, for the third time, O'Neill ran for the Ohio Supreme Court. He won a two-way primary against Fanon Rucker, a judge on the Hamilton County Municipal Court. O'Neill received 72% of the vote and carried all but one of Ohio's 88 counties. In the general election, O'Neill defeated incumbent Robert Cupp by four percent.[14]

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
William O'Neill Democratic 2,040,043 52%
Robert Cupp Republican Incumbent 1,860,801 48%

Personal life

O'Neill worked as a civil rights lawyer, small business owner, and union organizer. He is a registered nurse in the pediatric emergency department at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.[2][3][1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Meet Bill | O Neill '08 for Congress
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Marshall, Aaron (November 8, 2012). "Ohio Supreme Court candidate who shunned donations ends up victorious". The Plain Dealer.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wendel, Kim (November 11, 2012). "Chagrin Falls: Veterans honored on Veteran's Day". WKYC.
  4. ↑ Alcorn, William K. (November 6, 1996). "Campbell's wins Logan's unexpired term". The Vindicator.
  5. ↑ The Plain Dealer, November 6, 1996 - APPEALS COURT JOB GOES TO O'NEILL
  6. ↑ "Elections & Voting". Justice of the Supreme Court - Unexpired Term: November 2, 2004. Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Elections & Voting". Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court Term beginning January 1, 2007: November 7, 2006. Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Elections & Voting: Representative to Congress: November 4, 2008". U.S. Representative - District 14. Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  9. ↑ FEDERAL ELECTIONS 2008. Federal Elections Commission. Washington, DC. July 2009
  10. ↑ "Bill O’Neill announces another run against U.S. Rep. LaTourette » Local News » The Star Beacon; Ashtabula, Ohio". Starbeacon.com. 2010-02-06. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  11. ↑ "VIDEO : OhioDaily Interviews 14th Congressional Candidate Bill O'Neill | OhioDaily". Ohiodailyblog.com. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  12. ↑ "Home | Bill O'Neill for Congress | 2010". Oneill.publishpath.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  13. ↑ "Elections & Voting: Representative to Congress: November 2, 2010". U.S. Representative - District 14. Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Election results 2012: Votes for Ohio Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges". Cleveland.com (Associated Press). November 12, 2012.

External links