Ohio Republicans Seek Friendly Courts to Check Democratic City

Republicans are chipping away at the power of the blue-county judges in Ohio’s capital as the politics of the state and the city grow farther apart.

Franklin County, home to Columbus, and its panel of judges has traditionally heard much of the state’s major litigation. But as the makeup of that bench—it’s currently staffed by 15 Democrats and only two Republicans—has changed over the years and the Tenth District Court of Appeals has swung to nearly all Democrats, the state’s conservative officials are exploring new options.

Specifically, Attorney General Dave Yost (R) has chosen to bypass Franklin County and ...