Peter Sikora

Peter Sikora
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Current Court Information:
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Ohio
Title:	Former Judge
Position:	Term commencing 1/2/2013
Service:
Succeeded by:	Anjanette C. Arabian Whitman
Personal History
Party:	Democratic
Candidate 2012:
Candidate for:	Eighth District Court of Appeals
State:	Ohio
Election information 2012:
Incumbent:	No
Primary date:	March 6, 2012
Primary vote:	25.1%D
Election vote:	D

Peter M. Sikora was a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division in Ohio. He passed away unexpectedly in April 2012.

In the News: Articles

Sikora: Teens can donate blood as community service option

Juvenile Court Judge Peter M. Sikora brought the idea to the Red Cross more than a year ago after learning of large blood shortages. Sikora says teens who are unable to donate because of medical reasons can volunteer at a blood drive instead, take a CPR class or donate to local food banks. Red Cross spokeswoman Karen Kelley says supplies in the Northern Ohio Blood Region are short in six of the eight blood types — especially O Positive, O Negative and B Negative.

Blood donation is limited to those teens convicted of low-level crimes. No teens convicted of rape, murder, or violent crimes can participate.

Elections

2012 election

Sikora ran for a seat on the Eighth District Court of Appeals. He was defeated in the Democratic primary on March 6, receiving 25.13% of the vote.

See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2012

Cleveland bar association ratings

According to the compiled results at Judge4Yourself.com, Sikora received a rating of 3.25 out of 4 by local Cleveland bar associations. Those break down as:

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: Good
• Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association: Good
• Norman S. Minor Bar Association: Good
• Ohio Women's Bar Association: Excellent

Endorsements

Sikora was endorsed by The Plain Dealer. Read the endorsement at The Plain Dealer, "Plain Dealer endorses Eileen T. Gallagher and Peter M. Sikora in Democratic primary for 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals," February 11, 2012

2010 election

Sikora is running for re-election. He defeated opponent Almeta Ann Johnson in the Democratic primary. He was re-elected after running unopposed in the general election.

See also: Ohio Court of Common Pleas judicial elections, 2010 (A-H)

2008 election

• On November 4, Justice Evelyn Stratton received 2,443,112 (63%) votes to defeat challenger Peter Sikora, who received 1,424,786 votes (37%).

Rejects Endorsement

Sikora rejected the endorsement of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce for his 2008 Supreme Court bid. The rejection was owing primarily to the Chamber's opposition to paid sick-leave. Sikora has announced an endorsement from his local AFL-CIO instead.

2006 election

For a complete summary of his 2006 campaign contributions, please go to Follow The Money: Peter Sikora.

Ohio League of Women Voters response in 2006 Election

Each candidate was given a 150 word limit on the question, "What options do you believe the judiciary has when there is a judicial decision that requires the legislature to act if their response does not fully address the decision?" Sikora submitted this answer:

"It is important to understand that the authority of the judiciary to enforce its decisions relies primarily on the confidence the public has in the Court's fairness and impartiality. If the citizenry believes that a Court has rendered its decision based upon the facts and the law, free of any improper or undo influence, it is more likely that the decision will be respected and followed. Similarly, when a decision is issued that requires legislative action, respect for and confidence in the independence and fairness of the judiciary should inspire an appropriate legislative response. When, for whatever reason, that does not occur, the Court does have significant authority to enforce its decisions such as appointment of a special master and exercise of the contempt authority."

See also

• Cuyahoga County, Ohio
• Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
• Ohio judicial elections

External links

• Cleveland Public Library: Peter M. Sikora Records
• Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court