BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
John Burlew, a Republican lawyer who has declined GOP judicial appointments in the past, will file Monday as an independent candidate for a juvenile court judgeship with Democratic Party backing. Mr. Burlew's candidacy has left Hamilton County Republican Party leaders furious, and has Democratic Party officials ready to dump the candidate they recruited several months ago, lawyer Jeffrey Adams.
Hamilton County Republican Party chairman Mike Allen said Mr. Burlew is running as an independent because he feels snubbed by the party becauseearlier this year it chose juvenile court administrator Thomas Lipps as the GOP candidate to replace outgoing Juvenile Court Judge David Grossmann.
But Mr. Burlew, a 50-year-old Republican from Kennedy Heights, said the choice of another candidate by his party had nothing to do with it.
"I don't know how Mike Allen knows what I think," said Mr. Burlew. "They chose who they chose, and that's fine with me."
Mr. Allen said Mr. Burlew could have expressed an interest in the office.
"He never asked to come before our judicial screening committee," Mr. Allen said. "If he had, he would have been considered."
Mr. Burlew began circulating petitions last month to run as an independent. To qualify for the November ballot, Mr. Burlew must file the signatures of approximately 2,600 registered Hamilton County voters.
Friday afternoon, Mr. Burlew brought a final batch of petitions to the board of elections, raising the total he has submitted to more than 5,000.
Mr. Allen said GOP officials would go over the petitions "with a fine-tooth comb" to make sure there are 2,600 valid signatures. Mr. Burlew's petition drive was organized by lawyer Peter Swenty, a longtime Democratic Party activist.
Last week, in a letter to party activists, Hamilton County Democratic Party chairman Tim Burke Said that "this year, the Democratic Party will, I believe take another step in the direction of increasing the number of African-Americans on the common pleas court by supporting the independent candidacy of John Burlew for juvenile court." Friday, Mr. Burke said the party will decide whether to formally endorse Mr. Burlew "after we see if he qualifies for the ballot. For the time being, we have a candidate -- Jeffrey Adams."
But Mr. Adams said Friday he would be willing to stand aside if asked.
"Nobody has said anything to me about it," Mr. Adams said. "But I would withdraw, if that's what the party wants me to do." Mr. Adams said if he does withdraw his candidacy he would like an assurance from party leaders that they would support him in another judicial race in the near future.
Mr. Burlew said Friday it is his understanding that Mr. Adams will withdraw and that he will get the Democratic Party endorsement. "I'll take the endorsement of any party or individual who wants to give it to me," Mr. Burlew said.
He is a defense attorney who has handled a number of high-profile cases, including the drug trial of former Cincinnati health commissioner Stanley Broadnax and the horse-punching trial of former University of Cincinnati basketball player Art Long.
At least twice, Republican leaders have approached Mr. Burlew about judicial appointments, but he turned them down, saying he was more interested in a juvenile court slot.
