Who is running for Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Full term commencing 2-9-2027) in 2026?

Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Jennifer Branch has been a Hamilton County Common Pleas judge since February 9, 2021, after winning election in November 2020²⁴. She practiced civil rights law for more than two decades, including as a partner at Gerhardstein & Branch, handling discrimination, police misconduct, reproductive rights and LGBT cases, and represented plaintiffs in Ohio's marriage equality litigation that became part of Obergefell v. Hodges³. Ohio prints no party next to judicial candidates on the general election ballot, so this race is nonpartisan on the ballot.

• Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, since February 9, 2021; current term ends February 8, 2027²³
• Partner, Gerhardstein & Branch, from 2005; associate in civil rights litigation with Al Gerhardstein and Bob Laufman, 1997 to 2005³
• Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, 1987 to 1997³
• JD, Case Western Reserve University School of Law (cum laude, 1987); undergraduate degree with honors, New York University (1984)³
• Elected in November 2020, defeating incumbent Judge Elizabeth Callan, for a term commencing February 9, 2021⁴². Nominated in the Democratic primary for re-election in 2026¹⁵.
• Bar poll: Cincinnati Bar Association 2026 Hamilton County Judicial Candidate Poll. The CBA describes it as a confidential, nonpartisan survey sent to its active attorney members (the results sheet says 2,500 members of the Cincinnati legal community); 170 members responded, rating only candidates they had contact with in the past four years, on six categories, with a stated margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. It is a non-binding member survey of attorney opinion, not an endorsement or a rating by the bar association. For Jennifer Branch, 108 respondents reported contact. Of those, the share rating the candidate Excellent: administrative diligence 44%, communication skills 51%, community engagement 38%, integrity/impartiality/objectivity 55%, legal experience 58%, professionalism/temperament 53%. The share rating Below Average, in the same order: 19%, 11%, 13%, 18%, 8%, 19%⁶⁷.

Attorney, Bouchard Law Offices (solo practice)

Roger Bouchard is a Cincinnati solo practitioner who describes more than 23 years of legal experience, focused on OVI and criminal defense, and who previously served as a magistrate². He is a graduate of Xavier University and Capital University Law School². He is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for the Common Pleas General Division term commencing February 9, 2027¹. Ohio prints no party next to judicial candidates on the general election ballot, so this race is nonpartisan on the ballot.

• Solo practitioner, Bouchard Law Offices, Cincinnati; practice in OVI/DUI defense, license suspensions, traffic and criminal litigation; describes more than 23 years of legal experience²
• Former magistrate (the court and years are not stated on his firm's site)²
• Law degree, Capital University Law School; undergraduate degree, Xavier University²
• Not a sitting judge. Nominated in the Republican primary for the 2026 election and included on the county Republican Party's judicial slate¹³.
• Bar poll: Cincinnati Bar Association 2026 Hamilton County Judicial Candidate Poll. The CBA describes it as a confidential, nonpartisan survey sent to its active attorney members (the results sheet says 2,500 members of the Cincinnati legal community); 170 members responded, rating only candidates they had contact with in the past four years, on six categories, with a stated margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. It is a non-binding member survey of attorney opinion, not an endorsement or a rating by the bar association. For Roger Bouchard, 45 respondents reported contact. Of those, the share rating the candidate Excellent: administrative diligence 18%, communication skills 22%, community engagement 16%, integrity/impartiality/objectivity 27%, legal experience 24%, professionalism/temperament 27%. The share rating Below Average, in the same order: 36%, 24%, 36%, 31%, 22%, 38%⁴⁵.