Person
Colleen O'Donnell
- Work
- Attorney, Carpenter Lipps & Leland LLP, Columbus
Source: Colleen O'Donnell
- Public service
- Law clerk to U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi, Northern District of Ohio
Source: Colleen O'Donnell
- Public service
- Assistant attorney general, Consumer Protection Section, Ohio Attorney General's Office
Source: Colleen O'Donnell
- Public service
- Attorney in the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's Office of the Federal Energy Advocate in 2023
Sources: ohiocapitaljournal.com · odonnellforohio.com · justice.gov
- Public service
- U.S. immigration judge assigned to Laredo, Texas, beginning in summer 2023
Source: ohiocapitaljournal.com
- Public service
- Member, Ohio Supreme Court's Commission on the Certification of Attorneys as Specialists, and of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court's Personnel, Technology and Finance Committees.
Source: judgethecandidates.org
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in political science, Miami University, 2003
Source: Colleen O'Donnell
- Education
- Law degree, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 2006
Source: Colleen O'Donnell
Campaign website · Ballotpedia · Ohio campaign finance search
- $331KRaised, as filed · September 3, 2026
- $249KCash on hand · September 3, 2026
- no poll on fileLatest poll
- 6Positions in their words · 6 issues
- none on fileClaims checked
- 1Offices held · Former Judge, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, 2013–2023
8 of 11 sections researched
Not yet researched: What they have said, checked, Financial interests, Polling and approval.
What has been checked
- Profile 12 entries County of residence is left blank for all four candidates in this race: no official residence record was checked, and campaign statements of residence are listed under background. Checked: the candidate's court biography page where one exists; Ballotpedia; Wikipedia where a page exists; the campaign website
- On the ballot 1 entry
- Where they stand 6 entries Rule 4.1(A)(6) of Ohio's Code of Judicial Conduct bars judicial candidates from making pledges, promises or commitments about cases, controversies or issues likely to come before the court. Checked: the candidate's campaign website (every page linked from its menu); Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey (not completed by any of the four candidates as of 2026-09-21); VOTE411 (League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund); its pages render in the browser and returned no retrievable text to a script; Ohio Capital Journal reporting on the race, January to September 2026; Statehouse News Bureau reporting on the race, 2026; a web search for 2025-2026 interviews and statements by the candidate
- What they have said, checked None found in the records checked PolitiFact and FactCheck.org searched 2026-09-25: none found Checked: Research lane claims-2026, 2026-09-25
- Record in office 3 entries Rule: every Supreme Court of Ohio decision story on Court News Ohio's Cases index for 2026 (80 stories dated January 13 to September 18, 2026, fetched September 21, 2026) in which the candidate wrote the Court's majority or lead opinion. Dissents and concurrences are not listed. She has held no judicial office since January 2023, so no opinion of hers falls in the window. Her Franklin County Common Pleas rulings from 2013 to 2023 and her immigration court decisions are not covered by the rule. Checked: Court News Ohio's Cases index for 2026 and all 80 Supreme Court decision stories it links; the Supreme Court of Ohio's biography page or the candidate's current court's biography page
- Money 1 entry Calendar-2026 totals from the Secretary of State's candidate cover pages, through the August monthly report filed September 3, 2026.
- Financial interests None found in the records checked No financial disclosure statement for this candidate was found published online or reported in the news. Checked: the Board of Professional Conduct of the Supreme Court of Ohio, where judges and judicial candidates file financial disclosure statements; the statements are not published online; a web search for news reports of the candidate's financial disclosure statements, 2025-2026
- Polling and approval None found in the records checked Searched for a published general-election poll of the 2026 Ohio Supreme Court seat held by Jennifer Brunner, contested by Colleen O'Donnell (race 2026-supreme-court-jan-2-2027). Checked: Emerson College Polling (emersoncollegepolling.com) -- searched site and web for 2026 Ohio releases; Bowling Green State University / YouGov (scholarworks.bgsu.edu DePo Polls) -- checked the April, August and September 2026 Ohio releases; Quantus Insights (quantusinsights.org) -- checked its March 2026 and August 2026 Ohio releases; Civiqs (civiqs.com) -- general web search, no Ohio 2026 release found for this office; Baldwin Wallace University Community Research Institute -- general web search, no 2026 Ohio release found; Ohio Northern University -- general web search, no 2026 Ohio poll found; Data for Progress -- general web search, no 2026 Ohio release found for this office; Public Policy Polling (publicpolicypolling.com) -- checked its Ohio page; The Trafalgar Group (thetrafalgargroup.org) -- checked its September 2026 Ohio Midterm Statewide Survey and its Ohio-tagged poll pages; that release covers only the U.S. Senate race; Ohio press: Cleveland.com, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Capital Journal, Signal Ohio, the Ohio Statehouse News Bureau/WOSU -- general web search for a published poll of this race. No poll of this race, by any pollster or outlet, was found. Checked: Research lane polls, 2026-09-23
- Elections 1 entry Only the 2026 race is listed. Her 2016 and 2022 Franklin County Common Pleas races and 2020 Tenth District Court of Appeals race wait on race records this site does not yet hold.
- Endorsements 12 entries No bar association rating or newspaper endorsement for the 2026 race was found as of September 21, 2026; organization and party endorsements were not recorded in this pass. Checked: Judge4Yourself.com ratings (May 5, 2026 primary; no Supreme Court race rated); the Ohio State Bar Association's candidate ratings (most recent Supreme Court ratings linked by Judicial Votes Count are from 2016); Judicial Votes Count, Ray C. Bliss Institute, University of Akron; a web search for 2026 newspaper editorial endorsements in this race
- Sources 14 entries
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | researched |
| claims | none found |
| record | researched |
| money | researched |
| interests | none found |
| polling | none found |
| elections | researched |
| endorsements | researched |
| sources | researched |
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Chamber | District | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide | All of Ohio | Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-2-2027) |
On the ballot
- Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-2-2027) · November 3, 2026 · Republican
Sources: Official General Election Ballot, November 3, 2026 (sample ballot issued with Directive 2026-45) · Colleen O'Donnell
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Date | Deadline | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 18, 2026 | Military and overseas absentee voting begins | The start of absentee voting for military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters. | |
| October 5, 2026 | Voter registration deadline | 9 p.m. | Boards of elections and the Ohio Secretary of State's office are open until 9 p.m. to accept registrations. |
| October 6, 2026 | Absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting begin | Early in-person voting runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October 6 through October 9; hours change on later dates through Election Day. | |
| October 22, 2026 | Pre-general campaign finance reports due | 4 p.m. | Certain candidates, political action committees, caucus committees and political parties file by 4 p.m. reports covering contributions and expenditures through October 14, 2026. |
| October 27, 2026 | Deadline for boards to receive absentee ballot applications | 8:30 p.m. | Applications for an absentee ballot must reach the county board by this time. |
| November 1, 2026 | Last day of early in-person voting | 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Early in-person voting at county boards of elections ends on Sunday, November 1; the hours that day are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the table above. By October 29, nearly 1.3 million Ohioans had already voted early in person or returned absentee ballots (Journal-News; Signal Ohio's counts from the Secretary of State's daily absentee file add to 1,289,090). The 2022 midterm saw 1.47 million early votes, then a record. |
| November 2, 2026 | No early in-person voting at boards of elections | Early in-person voting at county boards of elections ended Sunday, November 1; there is no voting at boards of elections on Monday, November 2. Voters cast ballots at their assigned polling places on Tuesday, November 3. | |
| November 3, 2026 | Deadline for non-military/overseas absentee ballots to be received | 7:30 p.m. | Absentee ballots not covered by UOCAVA must be received by this time on Election Day. |
| November 3, 2026 | Last-minute absentee request for a hospitalization emergency | 3 p.m. | A voter, or a voter's minor child, who is hospitalized because of an accident or medical emergency may apply for an absentee ballot until 3 p.m. on Election Day. |
| November 3, 2026 | Polls open | 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Election Day voting hours statewide. |
| November 7, 2026 | Deadline for military and overseas (UOCAVA) absentee ballots to be received | The extended receipt deadline for UOCAVA absentee ballots. | |
| November 8, 2026 | Boards of elections may begin the official canvass | County boards may begin the official canvass of the November 3 General Election ballots (5 days after the election). | |
| November 18, 2026 | Deadline for boards to begin the official canvass | County boards must begin the official canvass of November 3 General Election ballots no later than this date (15 days after the election). | |
| November 24, 2026 | Deadline for boards to complete the official canvass | County boards must complete the canvass of November 3 General Election ballots no later than this date (21 days after the election). | |
| December 11, 2026 | Post-general campaign finance reports due | 4 p.m. | Certain candidates, political action committees, caucus committees and political parties file by 4 p.m. reports covering contributions and expenditures through December 4, 2026. |
Where they stand
Constitutional interpretation
I do not take the view that the Constitution, for example, is a living, breathing document, and so I honor both substantive and procedural judicial restraint
Source: ohiocapitaljournal.com
Immigration court service
While I honored my oath and obligation to interpret the law with integrity and to approach every case with an open mind, I never granted asylum a single time
Source: ohiocapitaljournal.com
Judicial philosophy
Regardless of my personal, emotional feelings about what I think the law should say, or what might make it better, or what might make it worse, I’m quite comfortable with how to compartmentalize, how to honor the oath that any judge should take to simply interpret the law, rather than rewrite the law
Sources: ohiocapitaljournal.com · ohiocapitaljournal.com
Politics and the courts
partisan politics really has no place in the courthouse.
Source: ohiocapitaljournal.com
Public safety
This is not just a victory for my campaign team, but for all Ohioans who support law and order, public safety, and fair, consistent court decisions
Source: ohiocapitaljournal.com
Why they are running
She is running for the Ohio Supreme Court to uphold the rule of law, protect public safety, and preserve a conservative majority on the Court.
Source: odonnellforohio.com
What they have said, checked
None found in the records checked
Record in office
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Person | Date | Kind | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Donnell (R) | 2013-05-20 | office | Judge, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division |
| O'Donnell (R) | 2013-05-20 | appointment | 2013-05-20 (appointment): Appointed by Governor John Kasich in May 2013 (she took the bench May 20) to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, fi |
| O'Donnell (R) | 2022-05-26 | action | 2022-05-26 (action): As a Franklin County Common Pleas judge, sentenced Treyrek D. Hairston to a minimum of six and a maximum of nine years in prison for involun |
| O'Donnell (R) | 2023-08 | appointment | 2023-08 (appointment): Appointed a U.S. immigration judge by Attorney General Merrick Garland, as announced by the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Imm |
-
appointment August 2023
Appointed a U.S. immigration judge by Attorney General Merrick Garland, as announced by the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review, and assigned to the Laredo Immigration Court in Texas, to begin hearing cases in August 2023.
Sources: ohiocapitaljournal.com · justice.gov
-
action May 26, 2022
As a Franklin County Common Pleas judge, sentenced Treyrek D. Hairston to a minimum of six and a maximum of nine years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the September 2019 fatal shooting of Trevel Robertson.
Source: yahoo.com
-
appointment May 20, 2013
Appointed by Governor John Kasich in May 2013 (she took the bench May 20) to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, filling a vacancy created by Judge John F. Bender's retirement.
Sources: ballotpedia.org · ohiocapitaljournal.com · courtnewsohio.gov
Money
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 135,398.22 | 32.2% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 37,053.84 | 8.8% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 195,143.93 | 46.4% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 53,404.20 | 12.7% |
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Totals as filed
| Race | Filer | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-2-2027) | OhioSOS O'Donnell for Ohio | $330,542 | $172,452 | $248,548 | September 3, 2026 |
Ohio campaigns were due to file pre-general reports on October 22, covering activity through October 14, 2026. They are not in these figures, which come from the latest report in our records, dated September 3, 2026.
Sources: data.ohiosos.gov · www6.ohiosos.gov · ohiosos.gov
Outside spending
Financial interests
None found in the records checked
Polling and approval
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Elections
| Race | Party | Result | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-2-2027) (2026) | Republican | Pending | 237,040 | 32.1% |
Offices held
Judge, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division · 2013-05-20 to 2023-01-06 · appointed
Sources: Colleen O'Donnell · ohiocapitaljournal.com
Endorsements
Endorsements received
organizationOhio Manufacturers' Association
August 18, 2026
One of five business groups announcing a joint endorsement of Hawkins and O'Donnell on August 18, 2026.
Sources: wosu.org · ofbf.org · odonnellforohio.com
organizationOhio Farm Bureau
August 18, 2026
One of five business groups announcing a joint endorsement of Hawkins and O'Donnell on August 18, 2026.
Sources: wosu.org · ofbf.org · odonnellforohio.com
organizationOhio Chamber of Commerce
August 18, 2026
One of five business groups announcing a joint endorsement of Hawkins and O'Donnell on August 18, 2026.
organizationOhio Business Roundtable
August 18, 2026
One of five business groups announcing a joint endorsement of Hawkins and O'Donnell on August 18, 2026.
organizationNFIB Ohio
August 18, 2026
One of five business groups announcing a joint endorsement of Hawkins and O'Donnell on August 18, 2026.
organizationBuckeye Firearms Association PAC
August 3, 2026
Source: 2026 BFA-PAC Grades and Endorsements for the Ohio General Election
unionFraternal Order of Police of Ohio
July 21, 2026
Named with Dan Hawkins in the union's statewide 2026 endorsement announcement.
Sources: fopohio.org · odonnellforohio.com
organizationOhio Right to Life
May 6, 2026
Named in the organization's report on endorsed candidates who won their May 2026 primaries.
Source: ohiolife.org
organizationOhio Value Voters
April 27, 2026
Endorsement announced April 27, 2026.
Sources: myemail.constantcontact.com · odonnellforohio.com
unionCleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association
February 2026
organizationOhio State Medical Association PAC
2026
Source: Endorsements
organizationOhio Society of CPAs PAC
2026
Source: Endorsements
Sources
Every URL on this page, once each.
- Ohio elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Colleen O'Donnell · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Colleen O'Donnell · O'Donnell for Ohio · accessed 2026-09-21
- Challenger to incumbent Ohio Supreme Court justice touts 'originalism,' strict immigration rulings · Ohio Capital Journal · 2026-07-31 · accessed 2026-09-21
- Ohio's Republican supreme court candidates make a bid to unseat 6-1 court's only Democratic justice · Ohio Capital Journal · 2026-05-04 · accessed 2026-09-21
- Former immigration judge wins in tight Ohio Supreme Court Republican primary · Ohio Capital Journal · 2026-05-05 · accessed 2026-09-21
- Official General Election Ballot, November 3, 2026 (sample ballot issued with Directive 2026-45) · Ohio Secretary of State · 2026-08-20 · accessed 2026-09-21
- Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Court News Ohio: Cases · Court News Ohio · accessed 2026-09-21
- Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct · Supreme Court of Ohio · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://data.ohiosos.gov/portal/campaign-finance · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://www6.ohiosos.gov/ords/f?p=CFDISCLOSURE:4:::NO:RP,4:: · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/campaign-finance · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://www.ohiosos.gov/campaign-finance/search/ · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1592866/dl
- https://www.judgethecandidates.org/candidate/odonnell.php
- https://www.fopohio.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=1008325
- https://www.odonnellforohio.com/endorsements
- https://www.wosu.org/2026-08-18/business-groups-again-endorse-republicans-for-ohio-supreme-court-but-say-its-not-partisan
- https://ofbf.org/2026/08/19/ohio-business-community-endorses-hawkins-odonnell-for-ohio-supreme-court/
- https://ohiolife.org/ohio-right-to-life-celebrates-primary-endorsement-wins/
- https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Endorsement---Colleen-O-Donnell-for-Ohio-Supreme-Court.html?soid=1101710997702&aid=K6BkaGi9kz0
- 2026 BFA-PAC Grades and Endorsements for the Ohio General Election · Buckeye Firearms Association · 2026-08-03 · accessed 2026-10-05
- Week in review: February 22, 2026 · Ohio Society of CPAs · 2026-02-20 · accessed 2026-10-05
- https://courtnewsohio.gov/bench/2013/judicialAppointments_051013.asp
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/franklin-county-judge-decries-gun-182819869.html
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Colleen O'Donnell", https://crackedbuckeye.com/people/colleen-odonnell/, built 2026-11-04, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-04