Who is running for Judge, Ohio First District Court of Appeals (Full term commencing 2-9-2027) in 2026?

Judge, Ohio First District Court of Appeals

Ginger S. Bock has served on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals since February 2021 after winning election in November 2020²⁵. She was previously an appellate lawyer in private practice and a staff attorney at the Court of Appeals and the Court of Common Pleas³. She is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for the full 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.

• Judge, Ohio First District Court of Appeals, since February 9, 2021; current term ends February 8, 2027²
• Administrative and Presiding Judge of the First District Court of Appeals for 2024⁴
• Adjunct professor of legal research and writing, University of Cincinnati College of Law³
• Private practice at law firms and in her own practice focused on appellate advocacy; argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and Ohio courts of appeals³
• Staff attorney, Court of Common Pleas (two years), and earlier staff attorney at the First District Court of Appeals for Judge Mark P. Painter³
• Worked about 10 years at nonprofit organizations before law school, including a residential home for abused children and a treatment center for women³
• JD, University of Cincinnati College of Law (summa cum laude); undergraduate degree, Miami University³
• Elected in November 2020, defeating incumbent Judge Roger J. Mock, and took office February 9, 2021⁵². Nominated in the Democratic primary for the 2026 election¹⁸.
• 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 Ginger S. Bock, 78 respondents reported contact. Of those, the share rating the candidate Excellent: administrative diligence 56%, communication skills 55%, community engagement 47%, integrity/impartiality/objectivity 56%, legal experience 50%, professionalism/temperament 60%. The share rating Below Average, in the same order: 3%, 5%, 1%, 13%, 14%, 9%⁶⁷.