The Money Is Not Even Remotely Related To Campaign Contributions

NYTimes (10.01.06):

"In the fall of 2004, Terrence O’Donnell, an affable judge with the placid good looks of a small-market news anchor, was running hard to keep his seat on the Ohio Supreme Court. He was also considering two important class-action lawsuits that had been argued many months before. In the weeks before the election, Justice O’Donnell’s campaign accepted thousands of dollars from the political action committees of three companies that were defendants in the suits." Campaign Cash Mirrors a High Court’s Rulings

"Two of the cases dealt with defective cars, and one involved a toxic substance. Weeks after winning his race, Justice O’Donnell joined majorities that handed the three companies significant victories." "An examination of the Ohio Supreme Court by The New York Times found that its justices routinely sat on cases after receiving campaign contributions from the parties involved or from groups that filed supporting briefs. On average, they voted in favor of contributors 70 percent of the time. Justice O’Donnell voted for his contributors 91 percent of the time, the highest rate of any justice on the court." Justice O'Donnell was the guy who had $18,000 in cash stolen out of his car back in February, 2005. He had it in a clothing bag in the back seat. He told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the money was "'not even remotely' related to campaign contributions". The AP quoted him as saying "the theft was 'just the oddest, most peculiar circumstance'."