Kotian seeks Hamilton County Common Pleas judgeship in 2026

Manisha Kotian, a Sycamore Township resident and attorney, is running for Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division, in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Leah Dinkelacker.

Kotian, according to her campaign website, describes herself as a lifelong Greater Cincinnati resident. She lives in Sycamore Township with her husband and three children. Her legal career spans more than three decades, according to BallotReady profile data, which lists her as an attorney at Manisha Bansal Kotian since 1992.

Candidate information

Office sought: Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (Term Commencing 1/14)
Election: Ohio General Election, 2026
Party: Nonpartisan
Residence: Sycamore Township
Education: Bachelor's degree in marketing/marketing management, University of Cincinnati (1989); juris doctor, University of Pittsburgh School of Law (1992)

Experience and public service

Kotian has held several legal roles in Hamilton County, according to her campaign website. She said she served as a magistrate at the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. She also said she represented children who were victims of abuse and neglect as an attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati and the Public Defender's Office.

Kotian said she developed a family mediation program at the ACLU and Legal Aid. She also said she worked as a mediator, litigator and guardian ad litem, a court-appointed advocate for children, in private practice and the Hamilton County courts.

She also ran a business. Kotian said she owned Tri-State Concrete Construction from 2004 to 2024.

On the issues

Kotian's campaign website lists three priorities for the bench:

Accessibility: Kotian said courts should offer family-friendly hours so working residents do not need to use vacation time to file documents.
Transparency: She said litigants should understand the court process and feel their voices are respected.
Representation: Kotian said the diversity of Hamilton County should be reflected on the bench and in the magistracy.

The Common Pleas Court General Division handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes and other matters for Hamilton County residents.