Justice of the Supreme Court

Daniel R. Hawkins

Full term commencing 1/1/2027; vote for 1; 6-year term. Judicial candidates run without party labels on the general ballot but are nominated in partisan primaries; parties below are the nominating party per the BOE list.

Party: Republican · Incumbent

Background

Ohio Supreme Court justice since December 2024. The court biography lists prior Franklin County Common Pleas and Municipal Court service and 13 years as a Franklin County prosecutor, including 10 years directing the Special Victims Unit. Supreme Court of Ohio: Justice Daniel R. Hawkins biography Evidence type: official record · The Supreme Court biography lists Hawkins’s current and prior public service.

Campaign statements and positions

• In a 2022 guest commentary, Hawkins supported Ohio Issue 1, which proposed allowing judges to consider public safety when setting bail. This is a dated statement about a proposed constitutional amendment, not a prediction about future rulings. Dan Hawkins guest commentary, Columbus Dispatch, October 27, 2022 Evidence type: candidate statement · This dated guest commentary states Hawkins’s support for Issue 1 and its proposed bail-setting change.

Voting record

• Doe v. Columbus, 2026-Ohio-1095: authored the opinion holding that a preliminary injunction blocking city ordinances was an immediately appealable final order; the Court reversed and remanded. Supreme Court of Ohio: Doe v. Columbus, 2026-Ohio-1095 Evidence type: official record · The opinion identifies Hawkins as author and describes the Court’s holding and disposition.
• State v. King, 2026-Ohio-2656: joined the 4-3 majority holding the State may seek discretionary leave to appeal a postverdict judgment of acquittal, but may not appeal it as of right. Supreme Court of Ohio: State v. King, 2026-Ohio-2656 Evidence type: official record · The opinion and official case announcement show Hawkins joined the majority; the holding allows discretionary review, not an appeal as of right.

Promise and record

These are selected examples only. Hawkins’s votes in a small number of cases do not establish a complete judicial philosophy or predict future decisions. Supreme Court of Ohio: Doe v. Columbus, 2026-Ohio-1095 · Supreme Court of Ohio: State v. King, 2026-Ohio-2656 Evidence type: editorial summary · The guide limits this comparison to the two cited opinions and does not infer a general ideology.

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