Terri Jamison, a Democrat and sitting judge on the Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals, is running for Ohio Appellate Court Judge for District 10 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The term begins July 1.

Jamison said on her campaign website that she is seeking election to preserve the court's status as an independent and co-equal branch of government and to ensure "Equal Justice Under Law" for all Ohioans.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Office sought: Ohio Appellate Court Judge, District 10 (term commencing July 1)
  • Current role: Judge, Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals (2021–present), according to BallotReady
  • Hometown: Originally from Welch, W.Va., according to her campaign website
  • Education: High school diploma, Welch High School; coursework at Columbus State Community College; bachelor's degree in business administration, Franklin University (2000); juris doctor, Capital University (2004); honorary doctor of community leadership, Franklin University (2021), according to her campaign website and BallotReady

Experience and public service

Before entering law, Jamison worked as a coal miner at U.S. Steel/Olga Coal Company as a member of United Mine Workers of America Local 7635, according to her campaign website. She also held roles as a day care provider trainer, eligibility worker and fraud investigator at the West Virginia Department of Welfare, and was an owner and agent at Allstate Insurance from 1985 to 2000, according to her campaign website and BallotReady.

After earning her law degree, Jamison said she founded Jamison Law Offices Co., LPA, with locations in Columbus, Mansfield and Springfield, Ohio, focusing on criminal, domestic, juvenile and probate law. BallotReady lists her as principal of the firm from 2005 to 2012.

Jamison said she served as an assistant public defender at the Franklin County Public Defender's Office and interned in the civil rights section of the Ohio Attorney General's Office. She taught business law as an adjunct professor at Daymar College and interviewing and counseling as adjunct faculty at Capital University Law School, according to her campaign website.

She served as a hearing officer at the Unemployment Compensation Review Commission from 2010 to 2011, according to BallotReady. She then served as a judge at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations-Juvenile Court from 2013 to 2021 before joining the appellate court, according to BallotReady.

Jamison said she is a founder and executive board member of the Ohio Black Judges Association, a board member of the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges and a member of the Military Committee for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

On the issues

Judicial philosophy: Jamison described her judicial philosophy as "Unbossed and Unbought," stating on her campaign website that a judge should not be swayed by public opinion or campaign contributions. She said she interprets law by referring to original intent or original meaning at the time it was created, while applying it to current society to ensure justice and equity for all people.

Juvenile justice and education: Jamison said she was featured in the 2019 documentary "PUSHOUT: Criminalization of Black Girls in School," which highlights disparities in school discipline. She said she was also featured in the 2018 documentary "It Starts Within," which focused on the life of Carlos Christian and his advocacy for incarcerated men.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are listed on Jamison's campaign website and BallotReady:

  • AFL-CIO
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • Laborer's International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 500
  • Matriots PAC
  • Ohio Democratic Party
  • Ohio Education Association
  • Our Revolution Ohio
  • P.O.E.R. Police Officers for Equal Rights
  • Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
  • The Collective PAC
  • United Mine Workers of America
  • Working Families Party

Candidate information was gathered from Jamison's campaign website and BallotReady. Policy positions and biographical claims reflect the candidate's own statements unless otherwise noted.