Six candidates are running for three seats on the Ohio Supreme Court. It’s an important race that could reshape the court, which has had a Republican majority since 1986.

The Ohio Supreme Court is the highest court in the state system. The court’s seven justices consider cases that raise constitutional questions and appeals from lower courts about everything from abortion access, redistricting and the death penalty to the advertising of boneless chicken wings.

The race is partisan, meaning the candidates are identified as Republicans and Democrats.

Lisa Forbes and Daniel Hawkins

Eight 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 Sharon Kennedy’s election to the position of Chief Justice in 2022.

Justice Michael Donnelly and 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.

🗳️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

Signal background

The Marshall Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system. Through a partnership with Signal Cleveland, The Marshall Project is weaving more resident voices into its reporting and building an understanding about how the justice system works — and doesn’t work — in Cleveland.