Francis Edward Sweeney Sr. (January 24, 1934 – April 10, 2011) was an American politician and jurist of the Ohio Democratic party. He served as a justice of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1993 to 2004. While on the court, he formed a majority coalition with fellow Democrat Alice Robie Resnick and Republicans Paul Pfeifer and Andrew Douglas. He earned his Juris Doctor from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1963. Sweeney, played defensive tackle for Xavier as well as in the Canadian Football League. His grandson Jake Ryan was a linebacker in the NFL, while two of his other grandsons (Connor (wide receiver) and Zack (linebacker) Ryan) played college football at Ball State. References External links Biography at the Supreme Court of Ohio Just Sports Stats Justices of the Ohio Supreme Court Cleveland–Marshall College of Law alumni Ohio Democrats Lawyers from Cleveland Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland) alumni 1934 births 2011 deaths Ohio Republicans American football guards Canadian football guards American players of Canadian football Xavier Musketeers football players Ottawa Rough Riders players Players of American football from Ohio 20th-century American judges 20th-century American lawyers