Hawkins seeks full term on Ohio Supreme Court

Justice Daniel R. Hawkins, a Republican, is running for a full term on the Ohio Supreme Court in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Hawkins faces Democrat Marilyn Zayas for the seat with a term commencing Jan. 1. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Editor's note: Hawkins has not responded to the Mason-Deerfield Times candidate questionnaire. This profile is based on public records and official biographical materials. The Times applies the same standards to every candidate.

Candidate information

Office sought: Ohio Supreme Court justice (term commencing Jan. 1)
Party: Republican
Born and raised: Columbus, Ohio
Education: High school diploma, St. Francis DeSales High School; bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Bowling Green State University (1998); juris doctor, The Ohio State University (2001)

Experience and public service

Hawkins is the 164th justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, according to his official court biography. He has held the seat since 2025.

Before joining the high court, Hawkins served as a judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, from 2019 to 2024, according to BallotReady profile data. His official court biography states he earned top ratings from the Columbus Bar Association and recognition from law enforcement and community organizations during that tenure.

He served as a judge on the Franklin County Municipal Court, Environmental Division, from 2013 to 2019, according to BallotReady.

Hawkins began his legal career at the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. He served as an assistant prosecuting attorney from 2001 to 2003, according to his Federalist Society biography. BallotReady also lists him as director of the Special Victims Unit at the same office from 1999 to 2013. In that role, the Federalist Society biography states, he was credited with conducting several jury trials, including six death penalty cases, and prosecuting violent crimes involving women and children as victims.

His professional memberships have included the American Judges Association, the Ohio Judicial Conference, the Association of Municipal County Judges of Ohio, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association, according to his Federalist Society biography.