Rep. Brennan Releases Statement on the Passing of Dean Steven H. Steinglass

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) issued the following statement regarding the passing of Dean Steven H. Steinglass:

“It is with profound sadness that I mourn the passing of Dean Steven H. Steinglass, Dean Emeritus of Cleveland State University College of Law, nationally respected constitutional scholar, and a trusted friend and advisor to me during my time in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Since I joined the legislature three years ago, Dean Steinglass was someone I could call for wise counsel and honest insight. His deep knowledge of the Ohio Constitution was unmatched, but it was his humility, patience, and unwavering commitment to fairness that left the greatest impression on me. He had a rare ability to translate complex constitutional principles into practical guidance - always grounded in integrity and a belief that the law should serve the people.

Dean Steinglass’s life was defined by service. From his early civil rights advocacy in Wisconsin to his decades of teaching and leadership at Cleveland State University College of Law, he dedicated himself to expanding access to justice and strengthening our legal institutions. As Dean from 1997 to 2005, he elevated the law school’s standing and mentored generations of attorneys who continue to serve communities across Ohio and the nation.

His scholarship shaped courts and classrooms alike. His treatise, Section 1983 Litigation in State and Federal Courts, and his definitive work, The Ohio State Constitution, remain essential resources for lawyers, judges, and lawmakers. That he argued two cases before the United States Supreme Court - Board of Regents v. Roth and Felder v. Casey - speaks to the extraordinary depth of his career, though he carried those accomplishments with characteristic modesty.

Even in retirement, Dean Steinglass continued to give back, serving as Senior Policy Advisor to the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission from 2013 to 2017. Ohio is better for his contributions, and our constitutional framework is stronger because of his thoughtful stewardship.

Beyond his remarkable professional achievements, Dean Steinglass was warm, curious, and kind. He loved ideas and believed deeply in civil discourse. Above all, he was devoted to his family. My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Dianne, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who loved him.

Ohio has lost one of its finest legal minds. I have lost a mentor and friend. His legacy will endure in the laws he shaped, the students he inspired, and the principles he championed.”