Judge Peter M. Sikora of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is today announcing his candidacy in the March 4th Democratic primary for Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Judge Sikora is running for the seat currently held by Justice Lundberg Stratton. That term ends January 1, 2009.

"Our system of government depends on a series of checks and balances, both politically and governmentally. We have seen what one party rule in all branches of Ohio government can bring. While the elections of 2006 brought some balance to the Executive and Legislative branches here in Ohio, there still is none on the Ohio Supreme Court. It's time for that to change."

Sikora, who supports the creation of Family Courts throughout the state, is also a tireless advocate for programs which encourage adoption. He is currently serving as Vice President of the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges.

Judge Sikora, 56, a native of Cleveland, has served on the Court since 1989. He was Deputy Director and General Counsel of the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (1986-89), Deputy Legal Counsel to Governor Richard F. Celeste (1983-86) and Law Clerk to the late Judge Jack Grant Day of the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals (1980-82).

Sikora is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Baldwin-Wallace College, Cuyahoga Community College and St. Ignatius High School.