2 candidates are tracked for Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning May 1, 2027) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joe Darwal and Joy Malek Oldfield. Candidate information follows official Summit County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Joe Darwal and Joy Malek Oldfield are on the November 3 ballot for the summit county court of common pleas judge term beginning May 1, 2027, per the Summit County Board of Elections' official candidate list for the November 3, 2026 general election (dated September 1, 2026, subject to withdrawal). Ohio judges appear on the November ballot without a party label.
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 › Summit County › Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning May 1, 2027)
Nonpartisan
Joe Darwal appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning May 1, 2027), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Joe Darwal.
Nonpartisan
Joy Malek Oldfield is the incumbent Summit County Common Pleas judge for this seat, serving since 2016 after serving as an Akron Municipal Court judge from 2011 to 2016, per Signal Akron's candidate coverage. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Joy Malek Oldfield.
Who is running for Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning May 1, 2027) in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning May 1, 2027) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joe Darwal and Joy Malek Oldfield. Candidate information follows official Summit County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge (Term Beginning May 1, 2027) 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 Summit 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.
Candidate roster from official Summit 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 Summit County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
16 tracked races in Summit County, Ohio. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.