Michael John Ryan (Ohio)
Michael John Ryan (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals. He assumed office on December 19, 2022. His current term ends on February 9, 2027.
Ryan (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for judge of the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on May 5, 2026.[source]
Ryan was elected to the Court of Common Pleas in November 2012 to an unexpired term. Ryan won re-election to a full term in the general election on November 8, 2016.[1][2]
Biography
Ryan received his B.A. in English from Allegheny College located in Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1993 and his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1996. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1996 and held the following positions until his election to the court of common pleas:[3]
- 2022-present: Judge, Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals
- 2012-2023: Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Ohio
- 2006–2012: Judge, Cleveland Municipal Court, Ohio
- 2001–2006: Magistrate, Cleveland Municipal Court, Ohio
- 2000–2001: Associate Attorney, Forbes, Fields and Associates
- 1999–2000: City of Cleveland Prosecutor’s Office
- 1998–1999: Attorney, Office of Professional Standards
- 1997–1998: Assistant City Prosecuting Attorney, City of Cleveland Prosecutor’s Office
Elections
2026
See also: Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 5, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals
Incumbent Michael John Ryan (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals on May 5, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Michael John Ryan | |
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Endorsements
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2022
See also: Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2022
General election
Special general election for Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals
Michael John Ryan defeated incumbent Cornelius O'Sullivan in the special general election for Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael John Ryan (D) | 66.0 | 249,113 |
 | Cornelius O'Sullivan (R) | 34.0 | 128,380 | |
| Total votes: 377,493 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals
Michael John Ryan advanced from the special Democratic primary for Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael John Ryan | 100.0 | 60,625 |
| Total votes: 60,625 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals
Incumbent Cornelius O'Sullivan advanced from the special Republican primary for Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cornelius O'Sullivan | 100.0 | 32,257 |
| Total votes: 32,257 | |||
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Campaign finance
2016
Ohio held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on March 15, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 16, 2015.
General election
Incumbent Michael Ryan ran unopposed in the general election.
| Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (Juvenile Division–Ryan Seat), General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Michael Ryan Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 269,457 |
| Total Votes | 269,457 | |
| Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Election Results," accessed November 9, 2016 | ||
Primary election
Incumbent Michael Ryan ran unopposed in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division Democratic primary election.
| Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (Juvenile Division–Ryan Seat), Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Michael Ryan Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 101,848 |
| Total Votes | 101,848 | |
| Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Election Results," accessed March 16, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 391 judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are all selected in an identical manner. Qualified individuals wishing to join the bench must participate in partisan primary elections followed by nonpartisan general elections.[4]
The chief judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are chosen by peer vote and serve for one year.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must be:[4]
- a district or county resident (for court of appeals and common pleas judges);
- at least six years practiced in law; and
- under the age of 70.
Under the Ohio Constitution, a judge who reaches 70 years of age may be assigned by the chief justice to active duty, receiving payment on a per-day basis in addition to whatever retirement benefits he or she is entitled to.
2012
Ryan defeated Anjanette C. Arabian Whitman in the general election on November 6, 2012, winning 67.13 percent of the vote.[5][6][7]
Cleveland bar association ratings
According to the compiled results at Judge4Yourself.com, Ryan received a rating of 3.25 out of 4 by local Cleveland bar associations in 2012. Those break down as:
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: Good
- Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association: Good
- Norman S. Minor Bar Association: Excellent
- Ohio Women's Bar Association: Good[8]
Endorsements
- The Plain Dealer.[9]
2011
- See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2011
Ryan was re-elected to the Cleveland Municipal Court after running unopposed.[10][11]
Bar Association ratings (2011)
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association - Excellent
- Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association - Good
- Norman S. Minor Bar Association - Excellent
- Ohio Women's Bar Association - Good[12]
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2022
Michael John Ryan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Official Results for 2012 General Election"
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed January 19, 2016
- ↑ Judge4Yourself.com: Michael John Ryan, Biographical Statement
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Ohio," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, Official Election Results 11/6/2012: Court of Common Pleas Judge
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, 2012 General Election Candidate list
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Michael John Ryan selected as Democratic candidate in Juvenile Court race," June 16, 2012
- ↑ Judge4Yourself.com, 2012 November General Election Judicial Candidate Ratings
- ↑ The Plain Dealer, Editorial: "Plain Dealer endorses Ryan, Rini for Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court," September 29, 2012
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Unofficial Results, 11/8/2011
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Candidates for the 2011 Primary Election
- ↑ Judge4Yourself.com, 2011 Municipal Judicial Candidate Rankings
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
