Ninth District Court of Appeals
Ohio's intermediate appellate court for the Akron region — a multi-county district covering Summit, Medina, Lorain, and Wayne counties. It hears appeals from the Summit County Court of Common Pleas and its sister trial courts.
Key facts
- Five judges serve 6-year terms and appear on the ballot with party labels (Ohio's 2021 law made appellate and Supreme Court races partisan; trial courts stayed nonpartisan).
- 2026: one seat is up and contested — Betty Sutton (D), an incumbent and former U.S. Representative, vs. Cynthia Curtin (R).
Connections
- The partisan appeals contest sits atop a fully contested trial bench — Summit's judiciary is a genuine electoral arena. Compare the Sixth District (Toledo) and Eighth District (Cleveland). Part of Akron 2026 Elections.
Sources
- Summit County, Ohio, elections, 2026 — Ballotpedia (retrieved 2026-07-06)
- Summit County Board of Elections (authoritative once certified) — Summit County Board of Elections (retrieved 2026-07-06)
- Ohio's 13th Congressional District election, 2026 — Ballotpedia (retrieved 2026-07-06)
- Fundraising disparity moves Ohio's 13th District (rating) — Cook Political Report (retrieved 2026-07-06)
- 2026 primary election voter guide for Akron and Summit County — Signal Akron (retrieved 2026-07-06)
- Summit County judges & council primary results, 2026 — Signal Akron (retrieved 2026-07-06)
- Ohio Redistricting Commission passes congressional map (2025 remap) — Ohio Capital Journal (retrieved 2026-07-06)
- Ohio Republican Coughlin drops out after redistricting — Newsweek (retrieved 2026-07-06)