Khalilah Lawson

Khalilah Lawson

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Cleveland Municipal Court

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

Collinwood High School

Bachelor's

Grambling State University

Personal

Profession

Magistrate judge

Contact

Campaign website

Personal LinkedIn

Khalilah Lawson is running for election for judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court in Ohio. Lawson is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Lawson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Khalilah Lawson graduated from Collinwood High School. Lawson earned a bachelor's degree from Grambling State University. Lawson's career experience includes working as a senior magistrate for the Cleveland Municipal Court, magistrate for the Cuyahoga County Probate Court, assistant prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, personal bailiff, and a substitute teacher for Cleveland Public Schools. Lawson has been affiliated with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Cuyahoga County Democratic Women's Caucus, the NAACP, and the Ohio Association of Magistrates.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2025)

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Cleveland Municipal Court

TJ Dow and Khalilah Lawson are running in the general election for Cleveland Municipal Court on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		TJ Dow (Nonpartisan)
		Khalilah Lawson (Nonpartisan)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Lawson received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

• AFSCME Ohio Council 8
• Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council
• Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association
• Cleveland Port Council Maritime Trades Department
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
• North Shore Federation of Labor AFL-CIO
• Cleveland American Middle East Organization
• Collective PAC
• Northeast Ohio Democratic Veteran Caucus
• UAW Northeast Ohio Community Action Program Council

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Khalilah Lawson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lawson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My career has been dedicated to public service and breaking barriers for underrepresented communities. I’m an active member of the National Council of Negro Women and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., organizations focused on service, equity and empowerment. As a member and former board member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, I serve on the Character and Fitness Committee and volunteer with programs like Stokes Scholars and 3Rs, teaching civics to Cleveland high school students. Currently, I serve as a Senior Magistrate for the Cleveland Municipal Court and have also served as a Magistrate for the Cuyahoga County Probate Court, Assistant Prosecutor, Criminal Defense Attorney, and Personal Bailiff. I’ve practiced on every side of the courtroom, giving me a deep understanding of justice. Before entering law, I worked as a substitute teacher for Cleveland Public Schools, and I remain committed to serving this community with compassion and integrity.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Trust is a key component of my campaign. During my tenure in the justice system, I’ve learned that trust is built not by titles, but by how people are treated. As a Senior Magistrate and formerly as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and bailiff; I’ve seen how confusing and intimidating the court can be. As judge, I will make sure every person who enters my courtroom is treated with dignity, respect, and patience. I’ll explain decisions clearly and use plain l so people understand their rights and the process. I will also connect individuals to resources and programs that help them succeed beyond their case. By being fair, consistent, and transparent, and by seeing people as more than their charges, I will work to rebuild trust in the
• Throughout my career, from serving as a prosecutor and defense attorney to my current role as a Senior Magistrate, I have worked closely with people facing mental health challenges, substance use disorders, housing instability, and financial hardship. I’ve presided over specialized dockets, including the Mental Health Court, Drug Court, and Veterans Treatment Docket, which are designed to address the root causes of why people come into contact with the justice system. These experiences have taught me that true justice requires more than punishment, it requires compassion, resources, and support. In my courtroom, I will continue to connect individuals to treatment programs, counseling, job training, and other services that help them succeed
• Mentorship and exposure to the political process is a major component of my campaign. I take pride in mentoring students and providing opportunities for them that I know are necessary for their educational advancement. I credit a lot of my success to the Upward Bound and TRIO program. This program introduced me to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It gave me the confidence to speak up in rooms where I may have been overlooked due to my gender, class, and skin color. I give my time to our students and speak endless possibilities to them. Our young men and women need to see someone one the bench that they can see in themselves.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about fairness in sentencing. Systemic disparities in bail, sentencing, and financial penalties too often make it harder for people especially those from low-income communities to move forward. As judge, I will not allow poverty or circumstance to determine someone’s future. Before ordering fines or fees, I will always ask about a person’s ability to pay and, when appropriate, waive or adjust costs so that they don’t become barriers to justice. I will also support programs that connect people with transportation, job training, and other resources to help them meet court requirements and succeed after their case. Accountability matters, but so do fairness and opportunity.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

My father taught me at an early age to be kind, always tell the truth, and take pride in having good moral character. He taught me that character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. All these principles are important to have as a Judge, and this is inherently who I am.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

Throughout my career I’ve learned that there is a barrier to accessibility and justice in our city. I am running for office to break that barrier and universally communicate legal principles and concepts that arise as daily obstacles in people’s lives. I graduated from Cleveland Public Schools. I am a first-generation college student. I come from a working-class family that instilled in me the importance of hard work, dedication, and fighting for the rights of other people. My entire career has been dedicated to public service, promoting fairness, and leading with compassion. I understand what fear looks from victims and offenders when the system does not work properly. I have the proper temperament and the discernment that is needed on our Court bench. I am seeking this position because I care about how decisions can change people’s lives. I took an oath as a lawyer to represent people to the best of my ability and stand for justice, even if it is unpopular. Every individual that appears before me will be seen and heard in the eyes of the law.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

The biggest challenge is addressing the root causes that bring people into court including poverty, mental health, addiction, and lack of access to resources, while still keeping our communities safe. As a judge, I will focus on solutions that balance accountability with support. That means connecting people to treatment and social services, expanding diversion opportunities, and working with community partners to break cycles of recidivism. Our court must be more than a place of punishment; it must be a bridge to stability and change.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council

Cleveland Port Council Maritime Trades Dept., AFL-CIO
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association
The North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor
AFSCME Ohio Council 8, AFL-CIO
C.A.M.E.O
Northeast Ohio Democratic Veterans Caucus
UAW Northeast Ohio Community Action Program Council

The Collective PAC

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I am most proud of the passion I have for advocacy. I attended college in a small town called Grambling, LA. During my freshman year in college, I became a member of the NAACP and later became the President. As President, I organized a trip for our student body to march and protest the racial injustices that were happening in Jena, LA for a group of young men labeled the “Jena 6.” Organizing that march fueled my passion for advocacy. Hurricane Katrina was also a devastating natural disaster that occurred during my sophomore year in college. Many of my friends and their families were devastatingly affected by the long-term effects of this disaster. The semester following Hurricane Katrina, I had an opportunity to partner with Habitat for Humanity to rebuild homes in southern Louisiana for individuals who lost everything. Many of us have heard the quote, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” I don’t look at serving others as an accomplishment. I look at it as my duty and responsibility as a human being.

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See also

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Candidate

Cleveland Municipal Court

Website

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Footnotes

Ohio courts

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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