COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court has backtracked, voting to reinstate a ban on judicial candidates revealing their party affiliations during general election campaigns.

The high court announced on Jan. 20 that justices voted 5-2 to reinstate the prohibition, reversing course just weeks after lifting the ban.

Chief Justice Thomas Moyer said a majority of the justices felt retaining the ban on party ID was important to preserving the nonpartisan nature of judicial elections.

Moyer was joined in supporting reinstatement by Justices Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Maureen O'Connor, Terrence O'Donnell and Robert Cupp.

Justices Paul Pfeifer and Judith Lanzinger voted no, citing the U.S. Supreme Court decision Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, which struck down a state law restricting certain judicial campaign speech.