On Nov. 5, voters will select judges in races for the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, which hears felony-level criminal cases and the Ohio Supreme Court, which decides constitutional questions and appeals from lower courts about everything from abortion access, redistricting and the death penalty to the advertising of boneless chicken wings .

Voters will pick judges for spots on the Common Pleas Court, which has 34 judges total. In addition, seven candidates on the ballot have no opponent. Countywide judge candidates run in partisan primaries and non-partisan general elections.

There’s also three candidates running to be juvenile court judges with no opposition and four candidates for the 8th District Court of Appeals who are running unopposed.

Six candidates are running for three seats on the Ohio Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the state system . The race is partisan, meaning the candidates will be identified on voters’ ballots as Republicans and Democrats.

Scroll to lean about the candidates. Click here to jump to the Ohio Supreme Court races.

Daryl Dennie and Judge Joan Synenberg

Daryl Dennie is challenging Judge Joan Synenberg for a six-year term that would start on Jan. 11, 2025.

Judge Timothy Clary and Kira Krivosh

Kira Krivosh is challenging Judge Timothy Clary, who was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill the seat of Judge Michael Russo, who died before his term ended. The winner will fill the rest of the term, which ends on Dec. 31, 2026.

Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams and Jason Ralls

Jason Ralls is challenging current Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams, who has been a judge on the Common Pleas court since 2013. The winner will serve a six-year term starting Jan. 12, 2025.

Judge Kevin Kelley and Antonio Nicholson

Antonio Nicholson is challenging Judge Kevin Kelley for a six-year term that starts on Jan. 1, 2025.

Tim Hess and Mollie Ann Murphy

The two candidates are running for the seat long held by Judge John D. Sutula, who is retiring. The winner will serve a six-year term that starts on Jan. 8, 2025.

Amily Imbrogno and Joy Kennedy

These candidates are running for the seat of longtime Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold, who is retiring. The winner will serve a six-year term that starts on Jan. 10, 2025.

🗳️ For more on this year’s November election, visit our Election Signals 2024 page .

Justice Melody Stewart and Justice Joseph Deters

The two current Ohio Supreme Court justices are running against each other for a six-year term that starts on Jan. 2, 2025.

Justice Michael Donnelly and Judge Megan Shanahan

Justice Michael Donnelly faces a challenge from Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan for a six-year term that starts on Jan. 1, 2025.

Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes faces Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Daniel Hawkins to fill a term on the court that will end on Dec. 31, 2026. The seat opened up when Justice Joe Deters decided to run for a full six-year term instead of staying in the seat he was appointed to after Justice Sharon Kennedy’s election to the position of chief justice in 2022.

Election 2024