The Honorable Melody J. Stewart, former Judge of the Eighth District Court of Appeals for 12 years, was sworn in as the 161st justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio on December 20, 2018. Making history, Justice Stewart is the first African-American woman elected to the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor administered the oath of office to newly elected Justice Stewart in a gathering before Justice Stewart’s proud colleagues and friends in the Eighth District Court of Appeals’ main courtroom. The Eighth District Court of Appeals has greatly benefited from Justice Stewart’s service on the court and wishes her the best of luck in the Ohio Supreme Court!

Justice Stewart’s public investiture ceremony was held at the Thomas J. Moyer Judicial Center in Columbus on January 31, 2019. Watch: Justice Stewart’s investiture ceremony.