Megan E. Shanahan

A bad court ruling almost finished off public safety

• Member, St. Mary Hyde Park Catholic Church 
• Federalist Society Member 
• Leads Cincinnati West Republican Club 
• "She has supported the Cincinnati Living Hope organization which helps provide transitional housing for homeless women and their children."

"As a Federalist Society member, Judge Shanahan understands the proper role of the judiciary – interpreting the law, not legislating from the bench"

Opinion: Eliminating public safety from bail reviews is bad policy (found on her Campaign Website)

Leadership isn't a popularity contest, Enquirer (September 30, 2016) Cincinnati

“When faced with tough decisions, drawing upon relevant life experiences provides confidence, and, sometimes, just the guts to make an unpopular call. I grew up in the coal country of western Pennsylvania with seven siblings. I am the youngest. Jobs I held before attending law school include newspaper carrier, bakery clerk, salesclerk, waitress, and mail carrier. I took these jobs because I needed to work. But they all shaped my worldview. It gave me balance.  Maybe self-awareness. So, when I became a prosecutor, a job I loved for a decade, I had some insight into the lives of the people I would meet. I draw from these experiences every day as judge. Too frequently our culture mistakes an interesting personal narrative for leadership. Relevant life experience and measurable accomplishment are prerequisites to leading others. Leadership is earned. It has weight.”

Judges' attack on 'law-and-order crowd' untethered from grim reality of crime, judge says, Columbus Dispatch (May 23, 2022) 

• “I trust judges to make the right decision, as they remain accountable to the citizens who elect them. I also trust that Ohioans will overwhelmingly vote to restore common sense and bring about reasonable bail reform when given the chance this November.” 
• “Yet every judge is elected by the people expressly to preserve and protect law and order for everyone. One of the responsibilities of Ohio judges is setting bail for those accused of crimes.” 

Shanahan said "I diligently prosecuted those who violated the obscenity laws, while also protecting free speech."

From Megan Shanahan’s campaign website:

"Judge Shanahan understands the proper role of the judiciary – interpreting the law, not legislating from the bench."

From Megan Shanahan’s campaign website:

"Judge Shanahan was a strong voice in support of an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would allow judges to consider public safety when setting bail for dangerous offenders. Her leadership and advocacy around Ohio was one of the reasons Issue 1 passed by a huge margin in 2022."

In an opinion piece, "Don't Let Xavier Become the Next Intolerance U," Judge Shanahan criticized attempts by some Xavier University students to cancel Justice Joe Deters’ appointment as "justice in residence." She argued that universities should foster open dialogue and diverse viewpoints rather than censoring them, emphasizing that engaging with experienced professionals like Deters provides valuable learning opportunities and is crucial for preparing students for leadership roles.