Judge Chris Brown is running for reelection to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, in the Nov. 3 general election.

The seat is a nonpartisan race. Brown has been certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data. He was first elected to the bench in 2014 and hears felony criminal cases and civil disputes, according to the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council.

Brown is a lifelong central Ohio resident who grew up on the south side of Columbus, according to the trades council. He attended St. Leo's Catholic Church.

Candidate information

  • Name: Chris Brown
  • Office sought: Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge, General Division (Term Commencing 7/2)
  • Party: Nonpartisan
  • Hometown: Columbus (south side); lifelong central Ohio resident
  • Education: High school diploma, South High School (1998); bachelor's degree in political science, Ohio State University (2002); juris doctor, Capital University (2005)

Experience and public service

Brown began his legal career as an assistant prosecutor at the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, where he served from 2005 to 2012, according to BallotReady. He was managing attorney at J. Scott Weisman Law Offices from 2012 to 2015.

He has served as a General Division judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas since 2015. Before attending law school, Brown graduated from South High School in 1998 and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Ohio State University in 2002, according to BallotReady. He received his juris doctor from Capital University in 2005.

On the issues

Judicial philosophy: Brown said on his campaign website that if reelected, he will continue to vigorously apply the law to each case. He pledged to do so "with an eye towards the intent and the impact of the law on all people in Franklin County, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or age."

Endorsements

The following organizations have endorsed Brown, according to the sources listed:

  • Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council
  • Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio
  • AFL-CIO

The trades council called Brown "a smart, young judge who has done a tremendous job on the bench," according to its endorsement statement.

Candidate issue responses are drawn from Brown's campaign website. Endorsements are attributed to their respective sources. The Upper Arlington-Grandview Record does not endorse candidates.