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Antonio Nicholson
Antonio Nicholson (Nonpartisan, Republican Party) ran for election for judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Ohio. Nicholson lost in the general election on November 5, 2024. Nicholson advanced from the Republican primary on March 19, 2024.
Nicholson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2024)
General election
General election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Incumbent Kevin Kelley defeated Antonio Nicholson in the general election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kevin Kelley (Nonpartisan) | 70.7 | 271,086 |
 | Antonio Nicholson (Nonpartisan)  | 29.3 | 112,194 | |
| Total votes: 383,280 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Incumbent Kevin Kelley advanced from the Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Kelley | 100.0 | 72,847 |
| Total votes: 72,847 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Antonio Nicholson advanced from the Republican primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Antonio Nicholson | 100.0 | 34,114 |
| Total votes: 34,114 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Nicholson in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Antonio Nicholson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nicholson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I also served as the lead attorney for The Cleveland Municipal Court Drug Court Program, a specialized court that provided critical assistance to individuals facing substance abuse and mental health challenges, along with clients that were sexually and physically abused and homeless. My work gave me the opportunity to advocate for those in need, but it also reinforced the importance of personal responsibility, accountability, and rehabilitation.
In addition to my public service, I founded the law firm, Nicholson Law LLC. My practice has successfully represented clients in both criminal and civil cases, offering comprehensive legal services to paying clients while also providing pro bono work to those in need. In our work, we are particularly mindful of the intersectionality of our clients’ experiences, understanding how factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and background can influence their legal challenges. Therefore, I tailor my approach to ensure that every client—whether affluent or underserved—receives the same high-quality representation, with fairness and respect at the forefront of everything that I do.- If elected to the bench, instead of focusing on the “what” (what the person did), I would focus on the “why.” When we discover the reasons for why people engage in certain types of behavior, we can use our discretion to sentence them appropriately.
- Throughout my career, I have worked to uphold fairness, integrity, and respect for the law. I believe that a judge’s role is not just to administer justice but to uphold the law with both compassion and firmness— ensuring public safety while also recognizing when rehabilitation is the best path forward. My experience has prepared me to assess each case thoughtfully, looking beyond charges to consider the full context and potential for productive futures.
- Our community deserves a judge who can strike the right balance—one who hold offenders accountable will while also offering second chances to those ready to make positive changes. I am committed to protecting the rule of law and making Cuyahoga County a safer, more just place for all.
While the courts have programs and resources that address these issues, I have alway been of the belief that one should not have to find themselves in the arms of the court to get treatment for these issues; they should have more avenues outside of the court system
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio
State courts:
Ohio Supreme Court • Ohio District Courts of Appeal • Ohio Courts of Common Pleas • Ohio County Courts • Ohio Municipal Courts • Ohio Court of Claims
State resources:
Courts in Ohio • Ohio judicial elections • Judicial selection in Ohio
