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Person

John P. O'Donnell

Democratic · Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, since 2007

Work
Civil trial lawyer, 1993-2002 and 2005-2007 (as stated by the campaign)

Source: John O'Donnell (2020 candidate questionnaire)

Education
Graduate of St. Joseph High School

Sources: Judge John P. O'Donnell · John O'Donnell (2020 candidate questionnaire)

Education
College, Miami University (Ohio)

Sources: Judge John P. O'Donnell · John O'Donnell (2020 candidate questionnaire)

Education
Law degree, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law; admitted to the Ohio bar in 1993

Source: Judge John P. O'Donnell

Home
Lakewood, Ohio, as given in his 2020 candidate questionnaire (as stated by the campaign)

Source: John O'Donnell (2020 candidate questionnaire)

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court page

5 of 11 sections researched

11 sources · 2014, 2016, 2020 · updated 2026-09-25

Not yet researched: Where they stand, What they have said, checked, Money, Financial interests, Polling and approval, Endorsements.

What has been checked
  • Profile 8 entries
  • On the ballot 0 entries Not a candidate in any 2026 race held on this site. Checked: This site's 2026 race records; This site's 2026 ballot list
  • Where they stand Not yet researched
  • What they have said, checked Not yet researched
  • Record in office 1 entry The ruling Wikipedia describes (the 2015 Brelo verdict). The trial-court (Miscellaneous) section of the Supreme Court of Ohio Reporter of Decisions lists no opinion under his name. His court page lists recent opinions that were not sampled. Not a complete record.
  • Money Not yet researched
  • Financial interests Not yet researched
  • Polling and approval Not yet researched
  • Elections 3 entries His three Supreme Court general elections (2014, 2016, 2020) are listed. His Common Pleas elections wait on race records this site does not hold.
  • Endorsements Not yet researched
  • Sources 11 entries
Coverage, by section5 of 11 sections researched.Profile: 8 entriesOn the ballot: 0 entriesWhere they stand: Not yet researchedWhat they have said, checked: Not yet researchedRecord in office: 1 entryMoney: Not yet researchedFinancial interests: Not yet researchedPolling and approval: Not yet researchedElections: 3 entriesEndorsements: Not yet researchedSources: 11 entries5 of 11 sections researched · 11 sources
Coverage, by section5 of 11 sections researched.Source: Cracked Buckeye coverage record for John P. O'Donnell, 5 of 11 sections researched · as of 2026-09-25 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
SectionState
profileresearched
ballotresearched
positionsnot researched
claimsnot researched
recordresearched
moneynot researched
interestsnot researched
pollingnot researched
electionsresearched
endorsementsnot researched
sourcesresearched

Correct this page · hello@crackedbuckeye.com

No public-domain or Creative Commons photograph is published for this person.
Where they are on the ballotOn the ballot for Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2021).John P. O'Donnell: Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2021), Democratic
Where they are on the ballotOn the ballot for Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2021).Source: U.S. House districts of the Ohio Redistricting Commission plan of October 31, 2025 · as of 2026-09-25 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
ChamberDistrictNote
StatewideAll of OhioJustice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2021)

On the ballot

None found in the records checked

The voting scheduleNo race is pending for John P. O'Donnell in the calendars on file.None found in the records checked
The voting scheduleNo race is pending for John P. O'Donnell in the calendars on file.Source: ohiosos.gov · as of 2026-11-02 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Where they stand

Not yet researched

What they have said, checked

Not yet researched

Record in office

Record in office, dated entries1 record entry from 2015 to 2015; 1 of them rulings; 2 offices held on the record.2010O'Donnell (D)Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, 2002 to 2005Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, 2007 to present2015-05-23 (ruling): Presided over the bench trial in State v. Brelo and found the defendant, a Cleveland police officer, not guilty of voluntary manslaughter an
Record in office, dated entries1 record entry from 2015 to 2015; 1 of them rulings; 2 offices held on the record.Source: Cracked Buckeye person record for O'Donnell (D), 1 dated entry · as of 2015-05-23 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
PersonDateKindEntry
O'Donnell (D)2002officeJudge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division
O'Donnell (D)2007officeJudge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division
O'Donnell (D)2015-05-23ruling2015-05-23 (ruling): Presided over the bench trial in State v. Brelo and found the defendant, a Cleveland police officer, not guilty of voluntary manslaughter an

  1. ruling May 23, 2015

    Presided over the bench trial in State v. Brelo and found the defendant, a Cleveland police officer, not guilty of voluntary manslaughter and of felonious assault in the deaths of two people after a November 2012 police chase.

    Source: Killing of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams

Money

Where the money went, as filedNo campaign finance filing is on file for John P. O'Donnell yet.None found in the records checked
Where the money went, as filedNo campaign finance filing is on file for John P. O'Donnell yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-02 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked
Money, as filedNo campaign finance filing is on file for John P. O'Donnell yet.None found in the records checked
Money, as filedNo campaign finance filing is on file for John P. O'Donnell yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-02 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked
Itemized contributions from inside Ohio, share of all itemizedNo filing on file for John P. O'Donnell breaks itemized contributions down by state.None found in the records checked
Itemized contributions from inside Ohio, share of all itemizedNo filing on file for John P. O'Donnell breaks itemized contributions down by state.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-02 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked
Donors, as filedNo itemized donor is on file for John P. O'Donnell yet.None found in the records checked
Donors, as filedNo itemized donor is on file for John P. O'Donnell yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-02 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Outside spending

Outside spending, as reportedNo outside spending is on file for or against John P. O'Donnell yet.None found in the records checked
Outside spending, as reportedNo outside spending is on file for or against John P. O'Donnell yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-02 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Financial interests

Not yet researched

Polling and approval

Polls, Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2021), as publishedNo poll of this race naming John P. O'Donnell is on file yet.None found in the records checked
Polls, Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2021), as publishedNo poll of this race naming John P. O'Donnell is on file yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-02 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Elections

Election results, share of the vote3 races on file, 0 won; shares from 44.1% to 49.7%.2014 Supreme CourtJohn P. O'Donnell, Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-2-2015): lost, 44.1%44.1%2016 Supreme CourtJohn P. O'Donnell, Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2017): lost, 49.7%49.7%2020 Supreme CourtJohn P. O'Donnell, Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2021): lost, 44.9%44.9%
Election results, share of the vote3 races on file, 0 won; shares from 44.1% to 49.7%.Source: Ohio Secretary of State, official canvass, 2014-2020 · as of 2020 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
GroupItemPCTNote
2014 Supreme Court44.1
2016 Supreme Court49.7
2020 Supreme Court44.9
RacePartyResultVotesShare
Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2021) (2020) DemocraticLost 2,231,724 44.9%
Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-1-2017) (2016) DemocraticLost 2,022,514 49.7%
Justice of the Supreme Court (Full term commencing 1-2-2015) (2014) DemocraticLost 1,132,759 44.1%

Offices held

Endorsements

Not yet researched

Sources

Data from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0: 2020 Ohio elections · Killing of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams · 2014 Ohio elections · Ohio Supreme Court elections · 2016 Ohio elections

Every URL on this page, once each.

  1. Judge John P. O'Donnell · Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas · accessed 2026-09-25
  2. John O'Donnell (2020 candidate questionnaire) · Judicial Votes Count (University of Akron) · 2020-09-24 · accessed 2026-09-25
  3. 2020 Ohio elections · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-25
  4. Killing of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-25
  5. 2014 Ohio elections · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-25
  6. Ohio Supreme Court elections · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-25
  7. Judicial Races Decided · Court News Ohio (Supreme Court of Ohio) · 2014-11-05 · accessed 2026-09-25
  8. William O'Neill Honored in Swearing-In Ceremony, Takes Office January 2 · Court News Ohio (Supreme Court of Ohio) · 2012-12-28 · accessed 2026-09-25
  9. 2016 Ohio elections · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-25
  10. Voters Cast Ballots for Two New Justices in General Election · Court News Ohio (Supreme Court of Ohio) · 2016-11-09 · accessed 2026-09-25
  11. Judicial Elections Bring Turnover at All Levels · Court News Ohio (Supreme Court of Ohio) · 2020-11-04 · accessed 2026-09-25

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Cracked Buckeye, "John P. O'Donnell", https://crackedbuckeye.com/people/john-o-donnell/, built 2026-11-02, accessed [date].

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