J. Craig Wright
Encyclopedia
J. Craig Wright is a former Republican justice of the Ohio Supreme Court who served in that office from 1985 to 1996.
Justice Wright was born June 21, 1929, in Chillicothe, Ohio
to Harry Jr. and Marjorie Riddle Wright and grew up in Lima, Ohio
. He graduated from Woodberry Forest School
in 1947, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky
in 1951 and graduated from Yale Law School
in 1954. From 1955 through 1956, he served as a special agent in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps. Upon completion of his military service, he entered private practice with the law firm of Wright, Gilbert and Jones in Columbus, Ohio
.
His judicial career began with his election to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court in 1970, where he served as a judge in The General Division for 14 years.
He defeated incumbent Justice James P. Celebrezze in November 1984 to win election to his first term on the Supreme Court and was re-elected in 1990. He was replaced by Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton
after retiring from the Supreme Court in 1996.
Following his retirement from the Supreme Court, Justice Wright entered private practice in Columbus, Ohio
. He retired from private practice in 2003 and served by assignment of the Chief Justice on the Ohio Court of Claims
through 2009.
In addition to his judicial and legal activities, Justice Wright was appointed by Governor Bob Taft
to serve on the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board from 2003 to 2006 and, at the time of his death, he was serving on the Ohio Public Defender Commission pursuant to an appointment from the Supreme Court.
Justice Wright’s legacy includes participation with other lawyers and judges in establishing one of the first efforts in the nation to address substance abuse in the legal profession. This effort was a precursor to the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program that has provided drug and alcohol dependency and mental illness treatment services to thousands of Ohio judges, lawyers, and law students since 1991.
“Craig Wright was an extraordinary jurist,” said Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer
. “His intellect and his years of experience in the law served him well as a trial judge and Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio
. Craig’s work in the field of alcohol and chemical addiction extended and improved the lives of hundreds of people. I have lost a good friend.”
Justice Wright is survived by two daughters, Marjorie Jane and Alice Ann, three grandchildren, a sister, Patricia Wright Klitgaard and a brother, Michael Wright. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Jane LaFollette and his two brothers: Thornton and Harry Wright III.
Justice Wright was born June 21, 1929, in Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
to Harry Jr. and Marjorie Riddle Wright and grew up in Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
. He graduated from Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School is a private, all-male boarding school located in Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia, in the United States. Woodberry's current enrollment is 402. Students come from 28 U.S...
in 1947, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in 1951 and graduated from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1954. From 1955 through 1956, he served as a special agent in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps. Upon completion of his military service, he entered private practice with the law firm of Wright, Gilbert and Jones in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
His judicial career began with his election to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court in 1970, where he served as a judge in The General Division for 14 years.
He defeated incumbent Justice James P. Celebrezze in November 1984 to win election to his first term on the Supreme Court and was re-elected in 1990. He was replaced by Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton
Evelyn Lundberg Stratton
Evelyn Lundberg Stratton is an American jurist. She is currently a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court.- Background and education :Evelyn Lundberg Stratton was born to missionary parents in Bangkok, Thailand on February 25, 1953...
after retiring from the Supreme Court in 1996.
Following his retirement from the Supreme Court, Justice Wright entered private practice in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He retired from private practice in 2003 and served by assignment of the Chief Justice on the Ohio Court of Claims
Ohio Court of Claims
The Ohio Court of Claims is a court of limited, state-wide jurisdiction. The court's jurisdiction extends to matters in which:#the State of Ohio is a party, and#the state has waived its sovereign immunity by statute....
through 2009.
In addition to his judicial and legal activities, Justice Wright was appointed by Governor Bob Taft
Bob Taft
Robert Alphonso "Bob" Taft II is an Ohio Republican Party politician. He was elected to two terms of office as the 67th Governor of the U.S. state of Ohio between 1999-2007. After leaving office, Taft started working for the University of Dayton beginning August 15, 2007.-Personal background:Taft...
to serve on the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board from 2003 to 2006 and, at the time of his death, he was serving on the Ohio Public Defender Commission pursuant to an appointment from the Supreme Court.
Justice Wright’s legacy includes participation with other lawyers and judges in establishing one of the first efforts in the nation to address substance abuse in the legal profession. This effort was a precursor to the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program that has provided drug and alcohol dependency and mental illness treatment services to thousands of Ohio judges, lawyers, and law students since 1991.
“Craig Wright was an extraordinary jurist,” said Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer
Thomas J. Moyer
Thomas Joseph Moyer was an American jurist and the chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1987 to 2010. A member of the Republican Party, he died suddenly on April 2, 2010, at age 70.-Pre-Supreme Court:...
. “His intellect and his years of experience in the law served him well as a trial judge and Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio
Supreme Court of Ohio
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest court in the U.S. state of Ohio, with final authority over interpretations of Ohio law and the Ohio Constitution. The court has seven members, a chief justice and six associate justices, each serving six-year terms...
. Craig’s work in the field of alcohol and chemical addiction extended and improved the lives of hundreds of people. I have lost a good friend.”
Justice Wright is survived by two daughters, Marjorie Jane and Alice Ann, three grandchildren, a sister, Patricia Wright Klitgaard and a brother, Michael Wright. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Jane LaFollette and his two brothers: Thornton and Harry Wright III.
See also
- Ohio Supreme Court
- List of Justices of the Ohio Supreme Court
- List of Ohio politicians
- Election Results, Ohio Supreme CourtElection Results, Ohio Supreme CourtThe U.S. state of Ohio has a Supreme Court of seven members, who are elected for six-year terms.See also:* List of Justices of the Ohio Supreme Court* Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court-Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court:Six-year term beginning Jan...