If you’ve spent any time looking at Ohio politics lately, you know the vibe has shifted. It’s not just about who’s in the Statehouse or who’s heading to D.C. anymore. People are finally waking up to the fact that the real power—the kind that decides if you can get an abortion, how your district lines are drawn, or if your local school board can let teachers carry guns—sits in a building at 65 South Front Street in Columbus.
That's the Ohio Supreme Court. And as of late 2024, Dan Hawkins is one of the biggest names in that building.
Honestly, the 2024 election was a bit of a bloodbath for the Democrats in Ohio. Republicans swept all three seats up for grabs. But the race for the seat vacated by Joe Deters was particularly interesting because it wasn't just an "incumbent vs. challenger" story. It was a battle between two very different types of judicial resumes. On one side, you had Lisa Forbes, a veteran of the appellate court. On the other, you had Dan Hawkins, a man who built his entire reputation in the trenches of the Franklin County prosecutor’s office and the local trial courts.
Hawkins won. He took about 55% of the vote. And with that win, he helped cement a 6-1 Republican supermajority on the state’s highest court.
Who is Dan Hawkins, Actually?
Before he was Justice Hawkins, he was just a guy from Columbus. He’s a local through and through—graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School, went to Bowling Green for his undergrad, and then stayed home for law school at Ohio State (Moritz College of Law).
He didn't start in some high-rise corporate law office. He started as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Franklin County.
Now, this is where it gets interesting. Hawkins spent 13 years as a prosecutor. For 10 of those years, he led the Special Victims Unit (SVU). We aren't talking about "paperwork crimes" here. He was dealing with the worst of the worst: violence against women, child abuse, human trafficking, and internet predators. He’s on record having conducted over 100 jury trials, including six death penalty cases.
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That kind of background does something to a judge. It gives them a "tough on crime" perspective that isn't just a campaign slogan; it’s literally what they did every day for a decade.
From the Environmental Court to the High Bench
Most people don't think about the "Environmental Court" as a stepping stone to the Supreme Court, but that’s exactly where Hawkins went next. In 2013, he was appointed to the Franklin County Municipal Court’s Environmental Division.
Sounds boring, right? Not really.
He used that seat to go after "drug houses" and abandoned buildings that were attracting crime in Columbus neighborhoods. He even started a program where people doing community service had to pick up trash in the city. It was a very "boots on the ground" approach to being a judge.
By the time he moved up to the Court of Common Pleas in 2019, he already had a huge following among law enforcement and conservative groups. When the 2024 special election came around to fill the seat Joe Deters left behind (since Deters decided to run for a full term in a different seat), Hawkins was the obvious choice for the GOP.
The 2024 Election: More Than Just a Name
You've probably noticed that judicial elections in Ohio look different now. They have "R" and "D" next to the names on the ballot. That’s a relatively new change, and it’s basically why the GOP swept. In a state that has trended significantly redder over the last decade, having that little "R" next to Dan Hawkins' name was like a turbocharger for his campaign.
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He defeated Lisa Forbes by a margin of about 540,000 votes.
But what was the race actually about? Forbes tried to frame the election as a "firewall" for democracy, focusing on reproductive rights and the rule of law. Hawkins, meanwhile, leaned heavily into his experience. His campaign was built on the idea that he’s a "rule of law" judge—someone who applies the law as written rather than trying to legislate from the bench.
It’s a classic conservative judicial philosophy. He often talks about judicial restraint. Basically, he thinks judges should be umpires, not players.
Why This Matters for You
You might think, "Okay, so there's another Republican on the court. Big deal."
It is a big deal.
The Ohio Supreme Court is about to face some of the most consequential cases in the state's history. Here is a look at what Justice Dan Hawkins and his colleagues will likely decide over the next couple of years:
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- Abortion Access: Even though Ohioans voted to protect abortion rights in the state constitution in 2023, the fight isn't over. There are tons of smaller laws still on the books—like the 24-hour waiting period—that are being challenged. Hawkins will be one of the seven people deciding if those laws can stay.
- Gerrymandering: The maps for the state legislature and Congress are constantly in court. While there are new attempts to change how we draw lines, the Supreme Court still acts as the final arbiter of what is constitutional.
- Public Safety and Bail: Hawkins has historically supported laws that require judges to consider public safety when setting bail. This is a huge point of contention between those who want criminal justice reform and those who want a "tougher" system.
The 6-1 Reality
With Dan Hawkins joining the court, Jennifer Brunner is now the lone Democrat. That is a massive imbalance.
It means that even if one or two Republican justices decide to "cross over" on a specific issue—which happens more often than you’d think with people like Justice Pat DeWine or Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy—the conservative wing still has a comfortable cushion.
Hawkins assumed office on December 10, 2024. He’s filling an unexpired term, which means he’ll be back on the ballot sooner than some of the others. His current term actually ends on December 31, 2026.
So, if you feel like you just finished hearing about him, get ready. The cycle starts all over again in about 18 months.
Actionable Insights for Ohio Voters
Politics is local, but the judiciary is personal. If you want to stay informed on how Justice Hawkins is shaping the state, here is what you should actually do:
- Watch the "Slip Opinions": The Ohio Supreme Court releases its decisions online before they are officially published. You can see how Hawkins votes on criminal appeals versus civil disputes.
- Follow the 2026 Calendar: Because Hawkins is filling a vacancy, his seat is up for election again in 2026. This isn't a "six-year and done" situation.
- Check the Columbus Bar Association Ratings: They consistently gave Hawkins high marks when he was a local judge. It’s worth seeing if those ratings hold steady now that he’s on the high court.
- Understand the "Rule of Law" Label: When you hear Hawkins or other justices use this phrase, they usually mean they will defer to the legislature's intent. If you don't like a law, they’ll tell you to go change it at the Statehouse, not in their courtroom.
Dan Hawkins isn't just another name on a ballot. He represents a specific, career-prosecutor-turned-judge philosophy that now dominates Ohio's highest legal authority. Whether you love that or hate it, his influence is going to be felt in every corner of the state for years to come.