Jackson County, Michigan

Judge of District Court, 12th District, Incumbent Position

2 candidates are tracked for Judge of District Court, 12th District, Incumbent Position on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nicole Hughes and George D. Lyons. Candidate information follows official Jackson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Nonpartisan; incumbent Nicole Hughes faces challenger George D. Lyons on the November 3 ballot, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official candidate listing.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

Michigan › Jackson County › Judge of District Court, 12th District, Incumbent Position

Nicole Hughes

Nonpartisan

Biography

Nicole Hughes was appointed to the 12th District Court bench by Governor Whitmer on April 1, 2026, per WILX News. She served nearly nine years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Washtenaw County handling domestic violence, sexual assault and homicide cases, and previously worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the Michigan Department of Attorney General and as a law clerk for a Michigan judge, per her campaign site. She now presides over the court's Domestic Violence Treatment Court.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

George D. Lyons

Nonpartisan

Biography

George D. Lyons is a longtime Jackson County attorney with nearly 30 years of courtroom experience across criminal, civil, family and probate law in Jackson County and surrounding Michigan counties, including hundreds of domestic violence cases, per his campaign site. He has lived in Summit Township with his wife Mary since 1999.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Judge of District Court, 12th District, Incumbent Position in 2026?

When is the Judge of District Court, 12th District, Incumbent Position election in Michigan?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Michigan are on the Michigan election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Jackson County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Jackson County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Michigan election office, or see the full Jackson County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Jackson County ballot

16 tracked races in Jackson County, Michigan. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

City of Jackson Mayor City of Jackson Treasurer, Partial Term Ending 11/30/2028 Norvell Township Clerk, Partial Term Ending 11/20/2028 See all 16 Jackson County races

Candidate profiles

Nicole Hughes, full profile George D. Lyons, full profile Official Michigan election office