Candidate for Ohio Supreme Court Justice (term beginning Jan 2, 2027)
Colleen O'Donnell
Republican
Colleen O'Donnell, a Republican, served as a Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge from 2013 to 2023 and then as a U.S. Immigration Judge in Laredo, Texas. She won the four-candidate Republican primary in May 2026. Her campaign emphasizes the rule of law, public safety, originalism and judicial restraint.
- Current or most recent role
- Former U.S. Immigration Judge; former Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge
- Hometown
- Columbus (grew up in the Cleveland area)
- Campaign website
- odonnellforohio.com
Why they say you should vote for them
The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.
- Says she is running "to uphold the rule of law, protect public safety, and preserve a conservative" majority on the court.[1]
- Describes herself as "a constitutional conservative with extensive judicial experience at every level of government."[1]
- Cites her service as a U.S. Immigration Judge in Laredo, Texas, where she says she enforced the law as written.[1],[2]
- Highlights nearly a decade on the Franklin County Common Pleas Court presiding over civil and criminal cases.[1]
Background
- U.S. Immigration Judge, Laredo Immigration Court (about six to seven months), U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review · 2023[3],[4]
- Judge, General Division (appointed May 2013; retained 2014; re-elected 2016), Franklin County Court of Common Pleas · 2013–2023[3],[4],[5]
- Attorney, litigation practice including products liability and criminal defense, Carpenter Lipps & Leland LLP[5]
- Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection Section, Ohio Attorney General's Office[5]
- Staff position, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio[1]
- Law clerk to U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio[5]
Education
Approach to the court
- Judicial PhilosophyDescribes her approach as originalism and pledges judicial restraint, interpreting laws according to their meaning at the time they were enacted; has said she does not view the Constitution as a living document.[6]
- Judicial PhilosophySays partisan politics has no place in the courthouse and that Ohioans want fair, consistent court decisions.[7],[8]
- Public SafetySays protecting public safety, including holding violent offenders accountable, is a reason she is running.[1]
- ImmigrationSays that as an immigration judge she enforced the law as written, never granted asylum, and ordered removals.[1],[7]
Notable cases
Colleen O'Donnell has not served on a court with published opinions we could summarize. See Background for their legal career.
In their words
Sources
- Colleen O'Donnell for Ohio Supreme Court (home page), O'Donnell campaign
- Colleen O'Donnell announces Ohio Supreme Court candidacy, The Crescent-News, October 8, 2025
- Judicial duo pays visit to Columbiana County, The Review (East Liverpool), July 22, 2025
- OH Supreme Court candidates Brunner, O'Donnell on rule of law, public confidence in courts, Ideastream Public Media, October 6, 2026
- Colleen T. O'Donnell, University of Akron, Judicial Votes Count, February 19, 2020
- Challenger to incumbent Ohio Supreme Court justice touts 'originalism,' strict immigration rulings, Ohio Capital Journal, July 31, 2026
- Pulse on the Ohio Supreme Court, University of Findlay Pulse, October 2, 2026
- Former immigration judge wins tight Ohio Supreme Court Republican primary, Ohio Capital Journal (via The Highland County Press), May 6, 2026
Photo: Photo: O'Donnell campaign (Campaign photo).
Last reviewed October 9, 2026. Spot an error or something missing? Report a correction.
Also running for Ohio Supreme Court Justice (term beginning Jan 2, 2027)
- Jennifer Brunner (Democratic)