Hendrickson seeks new term on Ohio 12th District appeals court

Robert A. Hendrickson, a Republican judge on Ohio's Twelfth District Court of Appeals since 2008, is running for a new term in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The seat is for District 12, Term Commencing 2/9.

Hendrickson is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

The West Chester-Liberty Herald sent Hendrickson a candidate questionnaire. He has not responded. This profile is based on public records and published sources. No official campaign website could be located.

Candidate information

Name: Robert A. Hendrickson
Party: Republican
Office sought: Ohio Appellate Court Judge, District 12 (Term Commencing 2/9)
Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
Birthplace: Middletown, Ohio (born Jan. 8, 1959); raised in Monroe, Ohio
Education: Monroe High School (1977); bachelor's degree in business administration, University of Cincinnati (1981); juris doctor, Capital University (1984)
Family background: Youngest of four children born to retired 12th District Court of Appeals Judge William R. Hendrickson and Gloria Hendrickson, according to the court's website

Experience and public service

Hendrickson has served on the Twelfth District Court of Appeals since 2008, according to BallotReady. His colleagues elected him presiding judge for 2025, according to The Clermont Sun. He was elected administrative judge for 2026, according to the Record Herald.

Before joining the appeals court, Hendrickson served as a judge on the Butler County Area III Court from 1997 to 2008, according to BallotReady. He also served as past administrative judge of the Butler County Area Courts, according to the court's website.

Earlier in his career, Hendrickson worked as a Butler County public defender from 1985 to 1996. He served as a magistrate and acting warrant officer at Hamilton Municipal Court and as acting prosecutor at Hamilton and Middletown municipal courts, according to BallotReady. He also worked in private law practice.

Hendrickson held elected office as a Monroe city councilmember in 1996, according to BallotReady. He served as vice president of his law school class at Capital University Law School and president of the Honor Code.

His professional memberships include the Ohio Municipal and County Court Judges Association, Ohio Bar Association, Butler County Bar Association and Warren County Bar Association, according to the court's website. He served as past president of the Butler County Municipal and County Court Association and past vice president of the Butler County Law Library Association.

His civic involvement includes serving as a board member and past president of Sonlight Power Inc., a mission organization that installs solar panel systems for churches, schools, medical facilities and orphanages in developing countries. He has also served as treasurer and board member of the Monroe Area Community Foundation, past president of the Monroe Lions Club, past president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Monroe Sports Association and Monroe Youth Basketball League, and as a Kentucky Colonel, according to the court's website.

On the issues

No issue positions are available. Hendrickson did not respond to the Herald's candidate questionnaire, and no official campaign website with policy statements could be located.