Ohio Courts
The Ohio judicial, executive and legislative branches all function to enforce law and order and ensure the well being of state residents. The state's judicial branch is especially critical in the enforcement of state statutes and the penalization of offenders.
Ohio courts are made up of three main levels, including the Trial Courts, Courts of Appeals, and the state Supreme Court. Trial courts have the first-hand jurisdiction over most civil and criminal matters and may also be referred to as courts of general jurisdiction. Appeals from the trial courts are transferred to the Ohio Courts of Appeals, the state’s intermediate-level appellate courts. The Courts of Appeals hear appeals from the trial courts in both civil and criminal matters. However, sometimes, a case may be transferred directly to the Supreme Court, thereby bypassing the Courts of Appeals. This may happen when the case is outside the Courts of Appeals’ jurisdiction, such as a case where the defendant is appealing a death sentence judgment passed by a lower court. The Ohio Supreme Court is the highest court in the state and has authority over all Ohio courts. The state’s Supreme Court is the last resort court and has supremacy over the Ohio constitution's interpretation.
Ohio has one Supreme Court composed of seven justices, including one chief justice and six associate Supreme court justices elected in partisan primaries and nonpartisan general elections. There are 12 appellate districts, with each district having three or more judges. Ohio’s 88 counties are divided into the 12 appellate districts, each having one Court of Appeals. Trial Courts have at least one judge in each court.
In addition to the aforementioned, there are also federal appellate courts which hear federal cases reserved for the jurisdiction of federal courts. All state courts as well as each federal court operates a clerical or administrative office responsible for generating and disseminating Ohio court records in compliance to the state's public records law.
What is the Ohio Supreme Court?
The Ohio Supreme Court is the state’s highest court with authority over all the other courts in Ohio. The Supreme Court in Ohio is the court of last resort with final authority over appeals relating to the Ohio constitution’s interpretation. The state’s Supreme Court oversees admission to the profession and can discipline licensed attorneys in the state. The Supreme Court carries out its functions under the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio created and regularly amended by the court.
The Ohio Supreme Court hears appeals from the Court of Appeals and other appeals within its jurisdiction. The court has original jurisdiction over habeas corpus, procedendo, mandamus, prohibition, and quo warranto writs. The Supreme court is located at:
Supreme Court of Ohio
Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center
65 South Front Street
First Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 387-9000
A subsidiary of the Ohio Supreme Court system is the Ohio Court of Claims, which is a court of limited jurisdiction that caters to cases involving claims against the State of Ohio. These claims typically seek financial compensation for damages.
What are Ohio Courts of Appeals?
The Ohio Courts of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate court that receives appeals from lower courts. The Courts of Appeals are authorized to alter, confirm, or reverse rulings from lower courts, including Municipal, County, Common Pleas Courts, Board of Tax Appeals, and the Public Utilities Commission. The Courts of Appeals also hear appeals for criminal, civil, and administrative cases. Also, Ohio Courts of Appeals share original jurisdiction with the Ohio Supreme Court over habeas corpus, procedendo, mandamus, prohibition, and quo warranto writs. There are 12 districts, with each district served by a court of appeals that sits in each of the counties in that district.
What are Ohio Trial Courts?
Ohio Trial Courts, also known as the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas, are represented in Ohio’s 88 counties. These Courts have general jurisdiction over most cases in the state, including felonies and civil matters where the dispute may amount to more than $15,000 or lower amounts. However, claims involving less than $1,000 may be transferred to a Municipal Court. Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are made up of various divisions, including General, Probate, Juvenile, and Domestic Relations Divisions.
Other Courts in the State include:
Municipal Courts preside over cases involving the violation of municipal ordinances in the state. These Courts are authorized to set a verdict aside, reverse or alter a judgment, order the suspension of a sentence upon receiving a notice of appeal, or grant a new trial. Municipal courts also punish contempt, issue process, preserve order or summon and impanel jurors. Municipal Courts may issue all orders considered necessary before or following the passing of a judgment on a case. These orders may include arrest, attachment or garnishment, a receiver’s appointment for personal property, the aid of execution, and revivor of judgment.
County Courts, quite similar to Municipal Courts, function in counties outside the territorial jurisdictions of the state's Municipal Courts. They are courts of limited jurisdiction and, as such, only hear a limited number of civil and criminal matters within their jurisdiction. County Courts hear civil cases with claims not more than $15,000. Cases statutorily higher than the County Court jurisdiction are transferred directly to the Court of Common Pleas. Ohio County Courts share some jurisdiction with Mayor's Courts. According to Chapter 4521 of the Ohio Revised Code, County Courts also have appellate jurisdiction over appeals or default rulings for local, noncriminal parking infractions.
Mayor’s Courts are not under the Supreme Court’s supervision but have the authority to hear minor cases, especially cases not punishable by jail time, such as some parking violations, minor misdemeanors, violations of municipal ordinances, etc. Mayor’s Courts do not hold jury trials; hence cases that require jury trials are transferred to a Municipal Court or a County Court. Mayor’s Courts have no judges.
What are Appeals and Court Limits in Ohio?
Appeals are proceedings involving a higher court reviewing or retrying a judgement that has been determined by another court. In Ohio, all cases, excluding non-moving traffic violations can be appealed. The court does not permit defendants to address the court during the appeals process. Ohio has two appellate courts, including the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.
An appeal process begins with a defendant filing a notice of appeal with the trial court clerk. The Court of Appeals cannot reduce or extend the time for filing a notice of appeal. In civil and criminal cases, a defendant must file the notice of appeal in criminal or civil cases within thirty (30) days of the judgment or order that is being appealed. The time limit begins from the entry of an order granting or denying the new motion. Appeals by the prosecution are also bound by the thirty (30) day limit. However, suppose the appeal is from an order granting a defense motion to suppress evidence or return property. In that case, the time limit is reduced to seven (7) days from the date of entry into the official court record. Note that if a motion for a new trial is filed because of newly discovered evidence does not extend the time for appealing a judgment.
A notice of appeal must fulfill the following specifications:
- Indicate the party making the appeal;
- Identify the judgment, order, or part of the record from which the appeal comes;
- Indicate the name of the court from which the appeal originates.
The trial court clerk where the judgment was initially passed must serve by mail to all parties’ most recent address, a copy of the notice, and the docketing statement. If the appeal is filed on time, the Court of Appeals may permit amendments to the appeal. The Court of Appeals does not specify any time limit for bringing newly found evidence. The defendant in a criminal case may appeal by leave of the court of appeals. In a criminal case, the government may appeal specific orders as a right and others by leave of court order under ORC 2945.67. The government is not permitted to file a late appeal.
During appellate proceedings, the presence of witnesses is not necessary, and there is no jury. Instead, the judges review the trial transcripts, read the lawyers' briefs, and listen to oral arguments. Typically, only a few guilty findings are reversed, most of the appeals end in guilty verdicts. However, after sentencing, the convicted person can appeal to a higher court; the state cannot appeal if the jury acquits the accused.
An appeal in the appellate court may end in any of the following ways:
- The appellate court agrees with the decision of the lower court
- The appellate court orders the lower court to review its decision
- The appellate court orders the defendant to be released.
Refer to the Ohio Rules of Appellate Procedure for details of the appellate procedure in Ohio.
How Do I Find My Case Number in Ohio?
A case number refers to a set of numbers allocated to each court case. A case number helps determine the year the case was filed, the court where it was filed, and other details on the case. A case number also provides easier access to case information and allows for a more specific search result, as a case number is unique to each case, and no two cases have the same number. Interested persons can search online with the name of either party involved in the case and also provide other optional information, including filing date and date of birth, to facilitate the search and identify the case number.
In most courts, the required information to perform an online name search for a case number are the first/middle name and last name, or company name, of a party to the case. During a case search, the optional information required includes a date of birth and filing or hearing date. An online name search can be conducted on the “case search” or “record search” portal. The Ohio judiciary website provides a list of all the Courts in Ohio and their respective locations, phone numbers, and websites. A name search to find a case number can also be conducted at the courthouse where the case was filed.
Does Ohio Hold Remote Trials?
Yes, courts in Ohio hold remote trials. However, certain local courts are still open for onsite hearings, but with strict precautions, including monitoring or screening and face covering, which are mandated before entry into the court. These new developments were instilled to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Guidelines on how each court in Ohio will hold their trial hearings are provided on the Ohio Court COVID-19 Responses portal of the Ohio Judicial System website.
