Kelly Green is running for Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge, Probate Division, in the Nov. 3 general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Chris Junga.

Green has served as a magistrate at Franklin County Probate Court since 2010 and as chief magistrate for the past five years. Asked why she is seeking the office in our candidate questionnaire, Green said she believes "my experience, knowledge, and leadership have prepared me to lead the court into its next chapter." She added, "If elected, I would also be honored to become the first woman to serve as Franklin County Probate Judge."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: "Democrat."

Education: "I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Ohio University and a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts."

Family: "I was born and raised in Ohio in a close-knit family of five children. My father was a steelworker for approximately 30 years, and my mother was a nurse. …"

Occupation and work history: "I currently serve as Chief Magistrate of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division, where I have been a magistrate since 2010 … Before joining Probate Court, I served as a staff attorney for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, from 2002 to 2010, working with several judges."

Endorsements: The AFL-CIO Central Ohio Labor Council, the Franklin County Democratic Party and the Hilliard Democrats have endorsed Green, according to Blue Voter Guide.

On the issues

What are the critical differences between you and other candidates? Green said in our questionnaire, "I bring 16 years of direct judicial experience in the Franklin County Probate Court, including five years as Chief Magistrate. I have presided over virtually every type of case that comes before the court, including estates, guardianships, adoptions, trusts, mental health commitments, and complex contested matters."

What accomplishments would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? "I helped lead the implementation of electronic filing for all Probate Court case types and established partnerships with Legal Aid and the Columbus Metropolitan Library to help people navigate the probate process without an attorney," Green said. She also said she has "taught probate law to judges and magistrates, helped develop Ohio's new-magistrate training and manual, and was asked by the Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College to help rewrite probate training for new judges."

What would you change as judge that you couldn't change as chief magistrate? "As Probate Judge, I would make accessibility, education, and community engagement central to the court's long-term direction," Green said. "As Judge, I would have the responsibility to set its overall direction and build on that progress with a continued focus on service, accessibility, and community connection."

How would you ensure guardians are properly screened and monitored? Green said guardianship "must include strong safeguards, oversight, and transparency." She noted the court "uses investigators to independently examine complaints or concerns involving a person's welfare or a guardian's conduct." On restoring rights, she said, "When evidence demonstrates that an individual can safely exercise their rights, with appropriate supports or less restrictive alternatives where needed, the court should restore those rights."

How would you make the court easier to use for families without a lawyer? "I helped establish a Small Estate Resource Center and develop a guardianship legal clinic to assist people without attorneys, as well as the Good Deeds Program with the Clerk of Courts and County Recorder to provide community education about estate planning and avoiding unnecessary probate," Green said.

The winner will begin a term on Feb. 9, 2027.