Justice
Megan E. Shanahan

Ohioans elected Justice Megan E. Shanahan to the Supreme Court of Ohio in 2024. Prior to becoming an Associate Justice, she spent more than a dozen years as a highly respected trial court judge.

Justice Shanahan was elected to the Hamilton County Municipal Court in 2011. She served on that bench until 2015 when the Governor appointed her to serve as a judge in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. Her decade of work presiding over some of the most serious and complex cases in one of Ohio’s largest counties was noteworthy because of her transparent, no-nonsense approach, earning her widespread respect from attorneys, litigants, and the citizens she served.

Before her judicial career, Justice Shanahan distinguished herself as a felony-level criminal prosecutor in both Butler and Hamilton counties. She successfully prosecuted over 50 jury trials, focusing particularly on prosecuting violent criminals who prey on children. In 2009, the Hope in Heels organization recognized her deep dedication to public safety and crime victims when they honored her with the Peggy Caldwell award.

Her passion for public safety was on display in 2022, when she was the only judge in Ohio to testify in front of the Ohio General Assembly in favor of a state constitutional amendment to require judges setting bond for those accused of crimes to consider the safety of the community when determining the amount of the bond. Ohioans overwhelmingly agreed, passing the amendment with 77% of the vote.

Justice Shanahan was born and raised in western Pennsylvania as the youngest of eight children in a working-class family. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Kent State University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Beyond her judicial duties, she actively engages with the community, frequently lecturing to students and civic groups. She supports organizations like Cincinnati Living Hope, which provides transitional housing for homeless women and their children. Justice Shanahan lives in Cincinnati with her husband and their two children.