Leah Dinkelacker is running to keep her seat on the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, in the Nov. 3 general election.

Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Dinkelacker to the bench on March 11, 2025, to replace Megan E. Shanahan, who was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court, according to Ballotpedia. Dinkelacker faces Manisha Kotian in the nonpartisan race. The winner will serve a full term on the General Division bench.

Dinkelacker is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Candidate information

  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Residence: Green Township, with her husband and three children, according to her campaign website
  • Hometown: Born and raised on the West Side of Cincinnati, according to her campaign website
  • High school: Mother of Mercy High School, according to her campaign website
  • Education: Bachelor's degree from Miami University; juris doctor from Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, 2011, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer

Experience and public service

Before joining the bench, Dinkelacker worked at the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office from 2012 to 2025, according to her campaign website. She said she served as an assistant prosecuting attorney and as assistant chief of the Juvenile Division.

Earlier in her career, she worked as a constable at the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas from 2009 to 2012, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. That role preceded her law degree.

Dinkelacker said she is a member of the Ohio Supreme Court Commission for Professionalism.

On the issues

Public safety and law and order

Dinkelacker said on her campaign website that she prioritizes community safety and law and order. She said her role as judge is to interpret and uphold the law. She said she treats everyone in her courtroom with dignity and respect and believes in law and order.

No other issue positions were available from the candidate at the time of publication.

Hamilton County voters will decide the race on Nov. 3.

Candidate responses were collected from Dinkelacker's campaign website. The Hyde Park-Oakley Record presents this profile as a voter resource and does not endorse candidates.