Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Donte Johnson is running for a seat on the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, General Division, in the Nov. 3 general election. Katie Casch is also running in the nonpartisan race.

Asked why he is seeking the office, Johnson said in our questionnaire, "I am seeking this office to bring vital representation and dedicated leadership to the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. Currently, there is only one Black man presiding on the Court. Diverse perspectives and professional background experiences matter deeply on a court that so directly affects the lives of our community."

Johnson said he is "also guided by a commitment to honor a legacy of public service," citing Judge Marsh, whom he described as "a mentor throughout my entire career" and "the longest-serving Black judge in Hamilton County history." He added, "Her seat carries tremendous weight and responsibility, and I take seriously the duty of ensuring her docket is managed with the same level of care, respect, and integrity."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: "Democratic Party"

The race is nonpartisan.

Education: "University of Cincinnati, College of Law (JD); Howard University (BA)"

Family: "Married with children"

Endorsements: AFL-CIO and Hamilton County Democratic Party, according to BallotReady.

Johnson said on X that he was named to the Cincinnati Business Courier's 2024 40 Under 40 class and was featured in the 10th Anniversary Edition of Who's Who in Black Cincinnati.

Experience and public service

Johnson described his work history in our questionnaire:

"Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge | 2021 – Present >Preside over misdemeanor criminal, traffic, and civil cases. Act as Duty Judge reviewing search warrants and conducting bond hearings for misdemeanor and felony offenses. Have managed tens of thousands of cases and presided over hundreds of trials. >Donte Johnson, Esq., Attorney at Law | 2020 – 2021 & 2012 >Maintained a private practice specializing in criminal defense, plaintiff's litigation, and probate law across federal and county courts. >Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, Assistant General Counsel | 2017 – 2020 >Represented the agency in litigation, negotiated multi-million-dollar contracts, and collaborated on eviction-prevention initiatives that significantly reduced filings. Secured $350,000+ in tenant assistance funding. >Hamilton County Public Defender's Office, Trial Counsel | 2012 – 2017 >Represented hundreds of clients with 1,000+ courtroom hours, handling cases from minor misdemeanors to felony aggravated murder."

On the issues

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

Johnson said, "What distinguishes me in this race is both the breadth of my legal experience and my commitment to stability on the bench." He added that his opponent "was just elected to a six-year term on the Court of Common Pleas in 2024. Running for a different seat on the exact same court with four years left on her term creates an unnecessary judicial vacancy, one that would take the decision away from voters and hand it to a political appointment by the governor."

How has your background shaped your approach to bond and sentencing?

"Serving as a public defender gave me a direct view of how initial court decisions impact lives, families, and stability long after a hearing ends," Johnson said. On bond decisions, he said, "I rely on risk-based assessments, reserving high bonds for genuine public safety threats or flight risks, while utilizing structured supervision for non-violent cases." On sentencing, he said, "I distinguish between violent offenders requiring incarceration to protect the community and individuals driven by addiction, mental health issues, or economic hardship."

Best advice ever shared with you?

"I've always lived by the principle that excellence must be standard in every task," Johnson said. "Beyond basic duty, doing your best honors the responsibility you've been given, inspiring trust in those watching and opening doors to future service."