Ballotpedia, Megan Shanahan

LinkedIn

Megan holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Kent State University and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and their 2 children. 

Megan previously worked as an assistant prosecutor for the Prosecutor’s Offices of Hamilton and Bulter County. She also worked as a prosecutor for the Mt. Healthy Mayor’s Court. 

Megan E. Shanahan currently serves as a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge. She was appointed to this position in 2015 and is serving her 2nd full term. She previously served as a Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge. She was elected to that position in 2011, but she did not serve for a full term. 

Candidate website

Supported an amendment to the Ohio Constitution allowing judges to consider public safety when setting bail for dangerous offenders.

Supported an amendment to the Ohio Constitution permitting judges to consider public safety when setting bail for people accused of violent crimes.

Testified that an amendment to the state constitution would allow judges to set bail "at an amount that keeps vulnerable people safe, secures the defendant’s appearance at trial, and promotes public confidence in the justice system."

- Supported an amendment to the Ohio Constitution permitting judges to consider public safety when setting bail for people accused of violent crimes.
- Testified that an amendment to the state constitution would allow judges to set bail "at an amount that keeps vulnerable people safe, secures the defendant’s appearance at trial, and promotes public confidence in the justice system."

Judicial Administration

Opposes judges "legislating from the bench."

Believes ideology has corrupted the judicial ratings process, turning it into "another partisan charade."

Believes political biases have "poisoned the judicial ratings process...". 

Believes a judge's role does not entail setting policies.

- Opposes judges "legislating from the bench."
- Believes political biases have "poisoned the judicial ratings process...". 
- Believes a judge's role does not entail setting policies.

Judicial Philosophy

As of August 7, 2024, Megan E. Shanahan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Community Involvement

Cincinnati Enquierer, Ohio only state with chance to flip Supreme Court this year | Opinion

Accused of taking to social media to "brag about her endorsements..." from anti-abortion groups and stating she is "proud" to be endorsed by such groups that support her campaign.

- Accused of taking to social media to "brag about her endorsements..." from anti-abortion groups and stating she is "proud" to be endorsed by such groups that support her campaign.

Ethics & Conduct

As a court of common pleas judge, Shanahan reviews the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issues with marriage licenses, administers divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversees criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parent-less.

As a municipal court judge, Shanahan oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases.

- As a court of common pleas judge, Shanahan reviews the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issues with marriage licenses, administers divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversees criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parent-less.
- As a municipal court judge, Shanahan oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases.

Legal Experience

Facebook

Megan E. Shanahan

Megan E. Shanahan was born and raised in coal country as the youngest of eight children in a working-class family. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Law. She is married, has two children, and resides in Cincinnati.

Megan E. Shanahan currently serves as a judge in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. She was previously a felony-level criminal prosecutor.

Megan E. Shanahan was elected to the Hamilton County Municipal Court in 2011 and re-elected in 2013. She was appointed to the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in 2015 and won a full term in 2016. She was re-elected to the Common Pleas Court in 2022 and is currently running for a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court.

Believes in strong judicial administration by prosecuting dangerous criminals and child predators.

Supports engaging with state leaders to address issues in the judiciary system.

Supports the use of closed circuit television for child witnesses so they do not have to face their offenders.

Believes in the ability of the General Assembly and the people to address necessary reforms for justice and fairness in Ohio without additional judicial tools.

As a prosecutor, worked to ensure "child predators and other criminals" receive appropriate sentences.

Believes judicial candidates should not participate in Judge4Yourself.com until an audit is conducted and the results are released.

As a judge, she presided over hundreds of cases and helped maintain a docket of thousands of cases.

Believes an amendment to the state constitution would allow judges to set bail amounts that ensure safety, secure trial attendance, and promote public confidence in the justice system.

Believes in asking difficult questions to clarify the law and ensure truth during cross-examinations, even if it makes people uncomfortable.

Believes in providing judges tools to ensure public safety in bail decisions. As a state representative, campaigned for a constitutional amendment to protect Ohio families from violent offenders.

Believes in preparing students for careers in law and as future litigants or witnesses.

Believes in the importance of the judicial process for continuous learning and shaping future leaders.

Believes the General Assembly is not the only body that can influence criminal justice policy.

Supports the role of judges in making important bail decisions.

Believes changing bail amount policies is a job for the General Assembly or the people themselves.

Believes the judicial ratings system is "beyond broken" and "beyond civility."

Believes judges must be impartial and supports the idea that organizations rating judicial candidates should also be impartial.

Opposes the judicial philosophy of Donnelly’s logic.

Opposes allowing defendants who pose a serious danger to the community to be released on bail.

Opposes amendments that could benefit prosecutors at the expense of defendants' due process.

Believes judicial rulings seeking "particular social results" can undermine long-standing legal protections.

Believes in upholding the Constitution and its free speech principles.

Believes in making rulings that are historically relevant and not "out of touch" or "legal footnotes."

Believes "rigorous exchanges are a cornerstone of justice."

Believes judges should not make policy decisions.

Believes the Dubose decision illustrates that significant legal changes can occur from a small number of justices, without input from legislators or citizens.

Believes in a "transparent, no-nonsense, plain-spoken approach" in every case.

Frequently lectures at schools and civic groups and has supported the Cincinnati Living Hope organization, which provides transitional housing for homeless women and children.

Believes eliminating public safety from bail reviews is "bad policy."

Recognized by the Hope in Heels Organization, advocate for crime victims.

Believes "voters are the real policymakers when it comes to bail."

Believes racism and political violence are unacceptable.

Believes a "bad court ruling" jeopardizes public safety.

Supports community involvement in safety measures, believing in strong mandates for public safety.

Believes public safety is compromised by judicial decisions, citing a Supreme Court ruling that prohibits judges from considering public safety when setting bail for individuals charged with dangerous crimes.

Believes the passage of the amendment was a "clear mandate for safety and a rejection of judicial overreach."

Believes public safety is essential and supports the ability of trial court judges to consider safety and use "common sense" when setting bail.

Believes there are "no consequences" for illegal immigrants, citing the release of five undocumented immigrants who assaulted two police officers.

Believes community involvement is crucial for safety, citing recent high-profile assaults in downtown Cincinnati.

Believes in strong community involvement and supports local leadership in condemning violence and assigning high bonds to suspects.

Supports community involvement in addressing public safety concerns.

Believes bar associations are not "fair arbiters of who serves on the bench" and should be "out of the judicial ratings business" until they improve their standards.

Supports fairness audits of organizations, including full disclosure of all funding, pass-through funding, and balance between Republican and Democrat funding.

Believes Judge4Yourself.com needs a neutral, outside investigator to examine its members' social media accounts and judicial ratings to ensure no bias or hateful commentary is present.

Believes Judge4Yourself.com, which rates Ohio Supreme Court justice candidates, is a non-partisan organization that benefits voters.

Opposes the website Judge4Yourself.com, which helps voters elect judges, saying it has a "hyper-partisan and condescending agenda."

Believes recent hyper-partisan and racist remarks highlight the need for a fairness audit.

Believes in holding individuals accountable for unethical behavior and poor judgment, citing the resignation of a co-chair due to racist comments and violent wishes towards political opponents.

Believes organizations that ignore "racist remarks and calls for political violence" are not worthy of trust.

Believes voters are the "real policymakers" on bail issues.

Supports Issue 1 and as judges, explained their support of it to the public.

Said, "I said what I said. I'm not ashamed. I'm moving on," in response to backlash for his comments on the Cleveland police.

Believes improving civility within the legal profession is important.

Believes confidence in the legal profession is declining due to organizations claiming impartiality while having a "partisan and divisive agenda."

Believes the real problem is the silence of the six affiliated bar associations that make up Judge4Yourself.com and the Ohio Democratic Party and their three endorsed candidates for Supreme Court, saying "none...has condemned or said anything remotely critical about these contemptable comments."

Believes all judicial candidates should refrain from participating in bar association activities until they commit to transparency and systemic change.

- The Supreme Court of Ohio has seven justices and serves as the final authority on the Ohio Constitution and Ohio law.
- The Court must accept appeals of cases that originated in the courts of appeals; cases involving the death penalty; cases involving questions arising under the U.S. Constitution or the Ohio Constitution; and cases in which there have been conflicting opinions from two or more courts of appeals.
- Decisions are made collectively by majority vote, and a justice writes the majority opinion.
- The justices elect a chief justice who serves as the administrative head of the state's court system, serving a six-year term.
- Justices are elected at large by the voters of Ohio for six-year terms across districts. Vacancies can be filled by the governor's appointment, with staggered elections ensuring that only some justices are elected each year.
- The chief justice earns $174,700 per year and associate justices $164,000 per year.