Judge Ralph (Ted) Winkler is running to retain his seat on the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, Probate Division, in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces one challenger, Elizabeth A. Tye, in the nonpartisan race.

Winkler has served as probate judge since 2015, according to Hamilton County Probate Court records. He is a lifelong Cincinnati resident.

Winkler's responses to a candidate questionnaire were not available as of publication. The information below is drawn from public records and his official court biography.

Candidate information

  • Office sought: Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge, Probate Division (Term Commencing 2/9)
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Education: High school diploma, Colerain Senior High School, 1979; bachelor's degree in accounting and finance, University of Cincinnati, 1983; juris doctor, Northern Kentucky University, 1987
  • Family: Married to Teresa for more than 40 years; three daughters and seven grandchildren
  • Professional memberships: Ohio Association of Probate Judges, National College of Probate Judges, American Judges Association, Ohio Judicial College, Cincinnati Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and Ohio Guardianship Association

Experience and public service

Winkler's legal career in Hamilton County dates to 1983, according to BallotReady.

He worked as a law clerk for Judge Donald Schott from 1983 to 1987. He served as an assistant prosecutor and practiced as a probate attorney, both from 1987 to 1999, according to BallotReady. Winkler won election to Hamilton County Municipal Court in 1999. He was elected to the Common Pleas Court General Division in 2004 and served there until 2015, when he took the probate bench.

The Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association awarded Winkler its Golden Gavel Award in 2015 for faithful service as a common pleas judge. The Hamilton County Trial Lawyers Association named him Trial Judge of the Year in 2008. The Colerain Chamber of Commerce named him a "Hometown Hero" in 2022.

Winkler also serves as a board member of Melanoma Know More, a volunteer role listed in his court biography.

Since 2015, Winkler has led the Wills for First Responders program. The effort has helped more than 4,000 first responders and their families receive free wills, living wills and health care powers of attorney, according to court records. The program grew out of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

In 2023, Winkler collaborated with Hamilton County Recorder Scott Crowley to bring the Good Deeds Program to Hamilton County. The program helps residents understand probate issues related to property transfers.

No policy platform or issue positions from Winkler were available for review as of publication. The other candidate in this race is Elizabeth A. Tye, running as a nonpartisan candidate.