COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP): The chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court says she wants to encourage voters to cast a ballot in judicial races by moving the elections to odd years and putting the candidates on the top of the ballots. 
 
Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor discussed her ideas to improve judicial elections at a Thursday legislative preview session for journalists organized by The Associated Press.
 
O'Connor also called for increasing qualifications for the judiciary. She said currently, attorneys need just six years of practicing law to be appointed or elected to the bench. She said she will talk to the Legislature about increasing the years of practice required.
 
She also announced a partnership between the Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio Newspaper Association and others to create a voter education website for judicial elections.