Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Donte Johnson is running for a seat on the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, General Division (Term Commencing 1/1). The nonpartisan race appears on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Katie Casch is also running for the seat.
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 added that he is "guided by a commitment to honor a legacy of public service. Judge Marsh, who has been a mentor throughout my entire career, is the longest-serving Black judge in Hamilton County history. 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"
Education: "University of Cincinnati, College of Law (JD); Howard University (BA)"
Family: "Married with children"
Endorsements: AFL-CIO; Hamilton County Democratic Party
Recognition: Johnson said he was featured in the 10th Anniversary Edition of Who's Who in Black Cincinnati and named to the Cincinnati Business Courier's 2024 40 Under 40 class.
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
Bond and sentencing decisions: Asked how his background as a public defender shaped his approach, Johnson said, "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. … For bond decisions, my priority is public safety paired with procedural fairness. Unnecessary pretrial detention can cause non-violent individuals to lose housing and employment before trial. 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. Accountability must be meaningful; true public safety comes from pairing firm consequences with rehabilitation, diversion, and targeted treatment to address root causes and prevent recidivism."
What he would bring to Common Pleas: Johnson said, "My experience as trial counsel with the Hamilton County Public Defender's Office taught me firsthand the realities of constitutional guarantees, evidentiary suppression hearings, and the human side of criminal justice. … Furthermore, serving as Assistant General Counsel for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority gave me insight into administrative law, regulatory compliance, and complex institutional operations."
Key differences in the race: Johnson said, "My 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. Our community deserves stability, experienced leadership, and a judge who is fully committed to the seat they were chosen to serve."
