Judge Megan Shanahan

Judge Megan Shanahan is a skilled and experienced trial court judge who has earned the respect of the people who come into her courtroom and the citizens who elected her. Judge Shanahan’s transparent, no-nonsense, plain-spoken approach is on display in every case.

Prior to taking the bench, Megan Shanahan was a felony-level criminal prosecutor, where she successfully tried over 50 jury trials. As a prosecutor, she helped send hundreds of the most dangerous criminals to prison. She brought a particular passion to prosecuting child predators. She gave comfort to these victims and gave no quarter to their abusers.

In one case, she persuaded the court to permit closed circuit television for the live testimony of a young victim, which allowed the child to testify in a separate room so as not to be intimidated by his offender. The judge agreed and the jury convicted the criminal.

After reaching the highest levels of prosecution, Judge Megan Shanahan was first elected to the Municipal Court in 2011 and re-elected in 2013. She presided over hundreds of cases and helped keep a docket with thousands of cases moving smoothly and fairly.

After she was appointed to fill a judicial vacancy, voters overwhelmingly approved, and in 2016 promoted Judge Shanahan to the Common Pleas Court, where the most serious criminal cases and most complex civil cases are decided. In winning an impressive 65% of the vote, she outperformed some better-known statewide and national candidates on the same county ballot and won more votes than any other contested judicial candidate in the county.

 In 2012, the Enquirer named Judge Shanahan one of the “Women to Watch,” and noted that with her election she became the “youngest of the 14 Hamilton County Municipal Court judges, achieving a growing respect as a courthouse leader and political force.” 

 Throughout her career, Judge Shanahan has shown a commitment to public safety and her passion was rewarded by the Hope in Heels Organization, advocate for crime victims. They recognized her with the Peggy Caldwell Award for professionalism, creativity, and determination in working with victims of violent crime.

 Born and raised in coal country, Judge Shanahan was the youngest of eight children in a working-class family. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University before going on to a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Law.

 Judge Shanahan frequently lectures at schools and civic groups. She has supported the Cincinnati Living Hope organization which helps provide transitional housing for homeless women and their children. Judge Shanahan is married, has two children, and resides in Cincinnati.