Early voting is now underway in Ohio. Ahead of the upcoming general election on Nov. 5, The Marshall Project and Signal Cleveland published a judge guide designed to help voters make informed decisions about judicial candidates.
The guide was developed in response to residents’ questions about the judicial system and the challenges they face in finding reliable information about judges. We also solicited questions for candidates directly from Greater Cleveland residents.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court races
Cuyahoga County has 34 elected Common Pleas judges who handle felony criminal cases and civil disputes.
On Nov. 5, voters will select judges for six of those seats. In addition, seven candidates on the ballot have no opponent. Four of those General Division judges are already on the bench, and three – Carl J. Mazzone, Lauren C. Moore and John J. Spellacy – will be new to the court. Countywide judge candidates run in partisan primaries and nonpartisan general elections.
Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court has six elected judges, and candidates running for three of those seats are unopposed.
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 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.
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 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.
Common Pleas General Division uncontested candidates
These candidates ran for seats with no opposition and would be newly elected to the Common Pleas General Division
Current Common Pleas judges running unopposed
These candidates are all current judges who are not being challenged.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Juvenile Division uncontested candidates
The three candidates are all current judges and are running unopposed.
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