Highest Court
The highest court in Ohio is the Supreme Court of Ohio. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and 6 justices. It has jurisdiction over (1) Court of last resort on state constitutional questions and questions of great general or public interest. (2) Appeals from Board of Tax Appeals and Public Utilities Commission. (3) All death sentences. (4) Original jurisdiction in select cases.
Intermediate Courts
Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals consists of
3-judge panels. It has jurisdiction over (1) Appellate review of judgments
of Common Pleas, and Municipal and County Courts. (2) Appeals from Board
of Tax Appeals (3) Original jurisdiction in select cases.
General Courts
Court of Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas consists
of 375 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) General Division, Civil and
Criminal cases, and appeals from most administrative agencies. (2) Domestic
Relations Division, divorces and dissolutions, and support and custody
of children. (3) Probate Division, Decedent's estates, mental illness,
adoptions, issues marriage licenses and performs weddings. (4) Juvenile
Division, offenses involving minors, and most paternity actions.
Limited Courts
Municipal Courts
The Municipal Court consists of
203 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Misdemeanor offenses (2) Traffic
cases. (3) Civil actions up to $15,000.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.
County Courts
The County Court consist of 55 judges.
It has jurisdiction over (1) Misdemeanor offenses (2) Traffic cases (3)
Civil actions up to $15,000.
No jury trials are overseen by this
court.
Court of Claims
The Court of Claims consist of judges
assigned by Supreme Court. It has jurisdiction over (1) All suits against
the state for personal injury, property damage, contract and wrongful death..
(2) 3-judge panels upon request.
Mayor's Court
The Mayor's Court consist of approx.
428 mayors. It has jurisdiction over (1) Violation of local ordinances
and state traffic laws. (2) Not courts of record and not subject to Supreme
Court Rules of Superintendance.
Additional Information
Powers when more than one judge
A municipal court with more than
one judge may have the judges sit separately as the presiding judge directs
and shall meet at least once a month concerning business of the court.
An order of the presiding judge may be vacated, amended, or modified by
a majority vote of the judges of court. Administrative authority
shall be used by a majority vote of the judges, including the presiding
judge.
(Ohio Revised Code § 1901.16)
Voluntary conciliation
The court may establish, by rule,
voluntary conciliation procedures for the small claims division and for
the recover of taxes in that division. (Ohio Revised Code § 1925.03)
Transfer of case
A civil action that was originally
filed on small claims docket may be transferred to a regular docket by
a motion of the court or by the filing of a counterclaim or cross-claim
for more than $3,000. A small claim may be transferred to the regular
docket upon the motion of a party against whom a claim, counterclaim, or
cross-claim is instituted, or upon the motion of a third-party defendant.
This motion must have an affidavit stating the defense to the claim, setting
forth the grounds of the defense, and setting forth the compliance of the
party or third-party defendant with any terms fixed by the court.
The party or third party defendant forfeits the right to a trial by jury
if the motion is not filed as such. (Ohio Revised Code § 1925.10)
Chief justice; election; term
A chief justice of the supreme court
shall be elected every six years and shall hold office for six years commencing
on the first day of January next after his election. Vacancies occurring
in the office of chief justice shall be filled in the manner prescribed
for the filling of vacancies in the office of judge of the supreme court.
(Ohio Revised Code § 2503.02)
Filing of transcript
A complete transcript of the original
papers, testimony, and evidence is to be prepared and filed by the officer
or body from which the appeal was taken within 40 days after the officer
or appropriate person filed the notice of appeal. (Ohio Revised Code
§ 2506.02)
Powers
Except as stated in section 2743.63
of the Revised Code, the court of claims has the same powers to subpoena
witnesses, require the production of evidence, and punish for contempt
as the court of common pleas. (Ohio Revised Code § 2743.05)
Payment of jail fees
If a person causes another person
to be sent to jail for reasons cited in section 2713.01 to 2713.29 will
be responsible for the jail fees that will become part of the costs of
the case. (Ohio Revised Code § 2713.28)
