Delaware County, Ohio

Judge, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (unexpired term ending 12/31/2030)

2 candidates are tracked for Judge, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (unexpired term ending 12/31/2030) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nickolas K. McCoy and Emma Mirles-Jones. Candidate information follows official Delaware County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

This nonpartisan-format seat opened when the previous judge, elected in 2018 and reelected in 2024 to a term running through 2030, retired from the bench in June 2026, per the Delaware Gazette. Nickolas K. McCoy and Emma Mirles-Jones filed by the August 10, 2026 deadline to compete in the November special election for the balance of that term; the county's certified list carries McCoy's filing as a Republican petition candidate and Mirles-Jones's as a Democratic petition candidate, but Ohio prints no party label for judicial races.

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.

Ohio › Delaware County › Judge, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (unexpired term ending 12/31/2030)

Nickolas K. McCoy

Nonpartisan

Biography

Nickolas K. McCoy is a candidate for Judge of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. He currently serves as a Magistrate in the county's Juvenile and Probate Division and was admitted to practice law by the Ohio Supreme Court in November 2009, per the Delaware County Bar Association. McCoy practiced law for nearly 16 years focusing on estate planning, elder law, guardianships and domestic relations, and served two terms as President of the Delaware County Bar Association, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Emma Mirles-Jones

Nonpartisan

Biography

Emma Mirles-Jones is a candidate in the special election for Judge of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. She holds a J.D. and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and has practiced law for 16 years, predominantly as court-appointed counsel and public defender in Franklin, Delaware and Morrow counties, focusing on criminal defense and family law, per her campaign site. She has represented children as guardian ad litem and is a Supreme Court of Ohio qualified mediator, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Judge, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (unexpired term ending 12/31/2030) in 2026?

When is the Judge, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (unexpired term ending 12/31/2030) election in Ohio?

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

How do I see my exact Delaware 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 Delaware County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Delaware County ballot

9 tracked races in Delaware County, Ohio. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Judge, Ohio 5th District Court of Appeals Ohio Senate District 19 Ohio House District 60 See all 9 Delaware County races

Candidate profiles

Nickolas K. McCoy, full profile Emma Mirles-Jones, full profile Official Ohio election office