Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas - General Division - Unexpired term ending 1/3/2029
Salary: $160,975Term: 6 yrsResponsibilities: To preside at trials of both civil and criminal cases; to supervise the jury commission, grand jury, and other departments of the court.For more information on judicial candidates visit: JudicialVotesCount.org
Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.
-
Chris McDowell
(Rep)
What are your qualifications for office? (250 character limit)
If elected, what will be your top 3 priorities? (500 character limit)
Occupation
Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Education
Marshall University, BA; West Virginia College of Law, J.D.
Experience
Before taking the bench as a Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge, I spent more than three decades building a legal career defined by breadth, challenge, and service. I served as an Army Captain in the JAG Corps as a prosecutor and public defender in Asia, Europe, and the US. I joined Dinsmore & Shohl in 2000, becoming an equity partner in the firm’s Cincinnati office, where I handled both civil and criminal matters. I have defended and prosecuted the most serious criminal cases—including murder and death penalty litigation. I have also tried multi‑million‑dollar civil cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. I have tried civil and criminal cases to federal and state juries throughout Ohio.
Political Philosophy
My political philosophy is grounded in fairness, evidence based decision making, and a belief that government should expand opportunity while protecting individual rights. I value practical solutions over ideology and support policies that strengthen communities, promote justice, and ensure everyone has a meaningful chance to succeed.
A seasoned judge with over 30 years of jury trial experience, I’ve prosecuted and defended cases from capital murder to major civil disputes, trying high‑stakes matters before state and federal juries across Ohio and the world.
I’ve cut the court’s overdue‑case backlog from 16% to 8% in six months, ensuring faster, fairer outcomes for everyone. I’m committed to keeping cases moving so justice is accessible, not delayed.
I prioritize community safety while protecting constitutional rights. My bond decisions balance public well‑being with the fundamental principle that every defendant deserves fairness.
I stagger dockets to respect people’s time—defendants, officers, and witnesses—so no one is left waiting unnecessarily.
To make a selection for a candidate you must first find your races. Would you like to find your races now?
You have already selected the maximum number of candidates for this race.
You must uncheck an existing selection before making another selection.