SECTION II THE COURTS. Ohio Trial Courts

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1 SECTION II THE COURTS The courts oversee and administer the law. In order to maintain a peaceful and productive society, our courts strive to protect individual rights, punish and deter criminal offenses and resolve civil disputes by applying the law in a fair and impartial manner. Ohio is served by separate state and federal court systems, both of which are organized into trial courts, intermediate courts of appeals and a Supreme Court. State courts deal primarily with cases arising under state law, and federal courts deal primarily with cases arising under federal law. Ohio Trial Courts In Ohio, most cases begin and are resolved in trial courts, which are the workhorses of the state s judicial system. Ohio has several levels of trial courts, and each level has two types of jurisdiction (power or authority). The first is territorial jurisdiction. Simply stated, that means the geographical territory over which the court has power. The second type of jurisdiction is subject-matter jurisdiction, which refers to the kinds of cases a court is authorized to hear and decide. Ohio trial courts include: common pleas courts - have countywide geographic jurisdiction and authority to decide all levels of civil and criminal cases; municipal and county courts - have more limited geographic jurisdiction than common pleas courts, and authority to decide only less serious civil and criminal cases; mayors courts - do not have civil jurisdiction, and have only limited authority to hear minor criminal matters that occur within a city or village; Ohio Court of Claims - handles only suits against the State of Ohio and claims for state compensation filed by crime victims. Web link: Ohio Judicial Conference, with links to Ohio courts: Common Pleas Courts The common pleas court is the most important of Ohio s trial courts. It is Ohio s court of general jurisdiction, which means that it has authority to hear almost any civil or criminal matter, and that most serious civil or criminal cases MUST be heard in common pleas court. Each of the state s 88 counties has a common pleas court. In a few small counties, a single judge handles all of the court s judicial duties. In large counties, the common pleas court may be staffed by more than a dozen judges, and divided into several specialized divisions, as detailed below. Like all Ohio trial, appellate and Supreme Court judges, common pleas court judges are elected. To qualify for election, candidates must be licensed attorneys with at least six years experience. Once elected, they serve six-year terms. 7

2 General Division The general division of each county s common pleas court has authority to hear all types of criminal cases and has exclusive jurisdiction over felonies, which are serious crimes that carry a potential penalty of from six months or more in a state prison to a penalty of death for aggravated murder. In civil matters, the common pleas court has exclusive jurisdiction in lawsuits seeking certain extraordinary remedies, such as injunctions and restraining orders. When money damages are sought, only common pleas courts may hear cases claiming more than $15,000 while civil cases seeking lesser amounts may also be heard in municipal or county court. In counties without county courts, the minimum amount that can be sought in common pleas court is $500. The common pleas court has no authority to hear appeals from lower trial courts, but it can hear appeals from administrative rulings made by government agencies. In lesser civil and criminal cases, the common pleas court shares the power to handle certain matters with other trial courts; that is, it has concurrent jurisdiction with municipal and county courts. Probate/Domestic Relations/Juvenile Divisions In addition to its general division, the common pleas court in most Ohio counties also has one or more specialized divisions that handle probate, domestic relations and juvenile matters. The probate division handles wills, estates, adoptions, guardianships and issues marriage licenses. It also supervises the activities and accounts of people in positions of trust (called fiduciaries), such as guardians, trustees and executors or administrators of estates. [For additional information, see Section VIII of this Handbook: Probate Law. ] The domestic relations division deals with divorce, marriage dissolution, annulment, legal separation, spousal support, parental rights, child support, parenting time, visitation and companionship. [For additional information, see Section IX of this Handbook: Family Law. ] The juvenile division has jurisdiction over delinquent, unruly, or neglected children; juvenile traffic offenders; and adults who neglect, abuse, or contribute to the delinquency of children. When a juvenile (any person under age 18) is accused of an offense, whether serious or minor, the juvenile division has exclusive jurisdiction over the case. A juvenile may be considered delinquent if he or she is accused of committing an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult. Other types of juvenile behavior may bring a minor into juvenile court, even though that behavior engaged in by an adult would be socially acceptable or, at least, non-criminal. Truancy, running away, unruly behavior and similar acts constitute these status offenses. When a juvenile is accused of a particularly serious crime, he or she may be transferred from the juvenile division to an adult court for trial and sentencing. Once the child is transferred, the juvenile division no longer has jurisdiction over the case. Except in cases involving murder or aggravated murder, the juvenile court may not relinquish jurisdiction unless the minor is at least 15 years old. The court must have reason to believe the child is not amenable to care or rehabilitation in a juvenile facility and that the safety of the community may require the child to be placed under legal restraint extending beyond the age of majority. 8

3 To protect juveniles from adverse publicity, the juvenile court may order the proceedings closed to the public. Therefore, reporting juvenile proceedings may pose special ethical and practical problems for journalists. In addition to the criminal and status offense jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the juvenile court also has jurisdiction over parentage issues. If a person or state agency wishes to determine if a person is the biological father of a child, that action is brought through the juvenile court. Therefore, juvenile courts often get involved in the same custody, visitation and child support matters as do domestic relations courts. [For additional information, see Section IX of this Handbook: Family Law. ] Municipal and County Courts Municipal and county courts are authorized by the Ohio Constitution and established by statute. Depending on the geographic jurisdiction specified by the legislature, a municipal court may serve a single city or an entire county. The territories served by county courts include only those areas within a county that are not covered by a municipal court. (In counties where the municipal court has countywide jurisdiction, there is no county court.) To qualify for election, municipal court judge candidates must be attorneys with at least six years experience and county court judge candidates must be licensed attorneys with at least two years experience. Once elected, both serve six-year terms. Jurisdiction The types of cases heard by municipal and county courts are similar, although there are some important differences. Municipal courts have jurisdiction in civil cases not exceeding $15,000, while county courts have jurisdiction in cases not exceeding $500. Both municipal and county courts are authorized to hear special types of lawsuits, such as landlord-renter disputes, collection cases and real estate evictions. Both courts can try misdemeanor criminal cases (moving traffic violations and other charges classified as minor offenses under state law) and both courts can hold preliminary hearings in felony cases to determine if there is probable cause to believe a felony was committed. If probable cause is found, the accused is bound over to the common pleas court for trial, since neither a municipal nor county court can try a felony case. Small claims and mediation Every municipal and county court maintains a small claims division that hears claims for money only (not exceeding $3,000). Although an individual going to small claims court may employ a lawyer, the procedure is informal and designed to resolve disputes without requiring the parties to be represented by attorneys. However, a corporation is viewed by the courts as a separate and distinct entity and must be represented by counsel. In many communities, courts now provide mediation services to help plaintiffs and defendants resolve their differences before the case actually goes before a judge or referee in small claims court. Web link: Small Claims Courts: 9

4 Mayors Courts Mayors courts are the trial courts with the most limited authority. They can hear only minor, non-jury cases involving violations of municipal ordinances or moving traffic violations under state law. Each mayor has the option to hold court and serve as presiding judge in these minor cases even if he or she is not an attorney, or the mayor may appoint a magistrate, who must be an attorney, to hear the case. Mayors courts generally hear cases involving violations of municipal ordinances, covering such issues as animal control, city income tax, zoning, building codes, vendors and public safety. They may also hear cases involving moving traffic violations on state highways within the municipality. Although the proceedings are quite informal, mayors courts are required to observe basic procedures to protect the rights of defendants. A mayor s court, however, is not a court of record. No recording of proceedings is required. The mayor may not order a person imprisoned for violation of a city ordinance unless that person waives, in writing, his or her right to a jury trial and consents to be tried by the mayor. Powers of mayors courts are becoming more limited through a series of rulings by the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Ohio. Court of Claims The court of claims is a special court located in Columbus that hears tort and contract claims against state agencies and victim of crime claims. The latter are claims filed on behalf of Ohio citizens who suffer injury as a result of crimes committed against them anywhere, and claims on behalf of non-residents who suffer injury as a result of crimes committed against them in Ohio. OHIO S TRIAL COURTS Court (Divisions) Territorial Jurisdiction Civil Case Jurisidiction Criminal Case Jurisdiction COMMON PLEAS COURT Countywide Any amount >$500; has Misdemeanors or felonies; exclusive authority to has exclusive authority hear cases over $15,000 to hear felony cases General Division Countywide Any amount >$500; has Misdemeanors or felonies; exclusive authority to has exclusive authority hear cases over $15,000 to hear felony cases Typical Cases Handled Felony criminal cases and civil lawsuits w/claimed damages of $15,000 or more Probate Division Countywide Wills and estates, adoptions, guardianships; oversees executors, trustees and guardians; issues marriage licenses Juvenile Division Countywide Hears all cases involving juvenile offenders (under age 18) Charges against delinquent & unruly children; juvenile traffic offenders; cases against adults for child abuse, neglect, abandonment Domestic Rels. Division Countywide Divorce; dissolution of marriage; child & spousal support; parental rights & visitation MUNCIPAL COURT Defined by statute; may be corp. limits of city or countywide Limited to lower-level civil suits (damages under $15,000) Small Claims Division Same as muni court Limited to minor civil disputes under $3,000 COUNTY COURT MAYOR'S COURT Limited to areas within a county NOT served by a muni court Limited to incorporated area of city or village Limited to civil suits under $500 No civil jurisdiction Can try only misdemeanor cases, but may hold prelim hearings in felony cases Minor moving traffic violations and other misdemeanors; civil suits w/claimed damages under $15,000 No criminal jurisdiction Minor civil suits w/claimed damages under $3,000 (cases usually heard informally by magistrates; parties represent themselves) Can try only misdemeanor cases, but may hold prelim hearings in felony cases Can hear only minor traffic cases and violations of city ordinances Lower-level civil, traffic and criminal cases that arise in unincorporated areas of a county Traffic offenses and local zoning; animal control; vendor, building code violations 10

5 Ohio Court of Appeals The goal of every judicial system is that trials be fair and equitable and that trial judges interpret the law and apply the rules correctly in every case. However, no system is perfect and trial courts sometimes make mistakes. The Court of Appeals was established to review claims of error by the trial courts and, when significant errors are found, to correct those mistakes. Ohio has two levels of appellate courts: the Ohio Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Ohio. District Courts of Appeals Ohio s intermediate appeals court is divided into 12 geographic districts ranging in size from a single county to more than a dozen counties. The territorial jurisdictions of the 12 court of appeals districts are set and periodically reviewed by the Ohio General Assembly. The number of judges in each district varies based on population and caseloads. To qualify for election, court of appeals judges must be licensed attorneys with at least six years experience. Once elected, they serve six-year terms. Appellate jurisdiction The most important duty of Ohio s courts of appeals is to hear appeals from decisions of the common pleas courts, municipal courts and county courts located within their respective districts. Every defendant in a criminal case and each party in a civil case decided in an Ohio trial court has the right to appeal his or her case to this intermediate level appellate court. Only a final judgment or order of a court can be appealed, and appeals generally must be on questions of law and not the facts of a case. Other than in very rare cases [see Original jurisdiction, below], appellate judges do not hear new testimony, receive evidence or examine exhibits. A three-judge panel is assigned to review detailed written briefs submitted by both the party claiming errors by the trial court (the appellant) and the party seeking to sustain the lower court s action (the appellee). Appellate judges also examine transcripts from the trial court s hearings and listen to oral arguments from the two sides to determine if proper procedure was followed and the law was correctly interpreted and applied by the trial court. After reviewing the trial court s decision and the parties briefs and oral arguments, the threejudge panel votes to take one of several actions: affirm the lower court s ruling; overturn the lower court s ruling; send the case back to the trial court for additional proceedings; or modify the lower court s decision. In some instances the appeals court judges may agree that mistakes were made by the trial court, but choose to uphold the initial decision because the errors weren t severe enough to affect the rights of (or create prejudicial error for) those who lost in the lower court. If the appellate panel finds mistakes that substantially affect a party s rights, they constitute prejudicial error, and the court of appeals may then take whatever action is necessary to bring about justice. A court of appeals may reverse the trial court s decision and give final judgment to the party who should have had it in the first place. It might reverse and send the case back for a 11

6 whole new trial, or it might simply send the case back for whatever further proceedings are needed. It can also modify the trial court s judgment or order in any way. Original jurisdiction Under Ohio law, certain unusual types of cases cannot be brought before a trial court, but must begin in a district court of appeals or the Supreme Court of Ohio. Among these are cases seeking what are known as extraordinary writs. These writs include: quo warranto, which challenges a person s title to a public office; mandamus, which asks the court to compel government officials to perform their duty; prohibition, which seeks to prevent a lower court from proceeding with a particular case or action; and procedendo, which seeks to compel a lower court to proceed with a particular case or action. Another special writ, habeas corpus, tests the legality of imprisonment and may be initiated in the court of appeals, the Supreme Court of Ohio, or a common pleas court. An example of a case seeking an extraordinary writ would be the case of a Workers Compensation claimant who was denied a claim for workplace injuries by the Industrial Commission. If the claimant believes state law required the Commission to honor the claim based upon the facts of the case, the claimant could file a writ of mandamus in a court of appeals, asking that the Commission be ordered to perform its duty and change its decision to match the demands of state law. Web link: Appellate Courts: Supreme Court of Ohio The Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest and most powerful court in Ohio. It is primarily a court of appeals and is Ohio s court of last resort. In addition to its appellate role, the Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction in the same types of extraordinary cases as the courts of appeals. [See above.] Additionally, the Supreme Court has certain administrative duties such as prescribing rules of procedure, monitoring and supervising the operation of all state courts, and controlling the practice of law within the state. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices elected statewide for six-year terms and a chief justice who is also elected for a like term. The chief justice acts as any other justice, but has additional administrative duties prescribed by law. Web link: Supreme Court of Ohio: Appellate and original jurisdiction The Supreme Court of Ohio reviews decisions of the state s 12 district courts of appeals and some state administrative agencies and boards. Parties who are not satisfied with the decision of an appellate court may appeal for a review of the case by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Unlike the intermediate level courts of appeals, however, the Supreme Court of Ohio accepts and hears only a small fraction of the cases requesting review. The court may, at its discretion, take a case that presents a unique issue of statutory or common law or a case that presents a substantial constitutional question. It also may choose not 12

7 to take a case if it feels that the law is clear on a particular point or that it does not need further interpretation. Further, it may decide that a constitutional question is non-existent or so insignificant that it does not need further legal discussion. The Supreme Court of Ohio also will take a case that is certified to the court by a lower appellate court. Cases are certified if two or more courts of appeals in Ohio have decided a similar legal issue differently, or if two or more courts of appeals have interpreted the same statute differently. The Supreme Court is the ultimate decider of such issues. If the Supreme Court does decide to hear a case, legal briefs are filed by the appellant and appellee. Sometimes transcripts from lower courts are filed. These documents are available for public inspection at the Supreme Court s clerk s office in Columbus. After the written arguments of law are presented, the Supreme Court schedules and hears oral arguments, normally in Columbus. As in oral argument at the district courts of appeals, the attorneys for the parties appear before the court to present and defend their positions. The seven justices sit as a panel and often question the attorneys on points of law or procedure. The Supreme Court does not issue its rulings on the day of oral argument. Instead, the justices meet privately to discuss the case. After the private meeting, they vote on the outcome with agreement by a simple majority (four of the seven justices) necessary to decide the case. A formal written opinion explaining the court s decision is then prepared by one of the justices who voted in the majority. Another justice may write a concurring opinion agreeing with the outcome but for different reasons. Sometimes a dissenting opinion is written. Even if there is a dissenting opinion, the majority opinion prevails. On the day it is announced, the full text of every Supreme Court decision is made available to the media and the public through the Court s Office of Public Information. When a legal or procedural issue has been addressed in a majority opinion of the Supreme Court of Ohio, that interpretation must be followed by all appellate and trial courts within the state system in deciding future cases. If a party is not satisfied with the decision of the Supreme Court of Ohio, an attempt can be made to appeal the case to the federal court system. However, federal courts are not required to accept such cases, and generally defer to state Supreme Court decisions unless a compelling case can be made that the ruling in question conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes. Prescribing rules of procedure The Supreme Court of Ohio has authority under the state constitution to adopt rules governing practice and procedure in all Ohio courts and to oversee the operations of all state courts. The Supreme Court has adopted complete sets of rules for civil, criminal, appellate, juvenile and traffic court procedures, as well as rules for the admission of evidence in all state courts. Those rules, which are binding on all state courts and judges, can be accessed through the Supreme Court s Web site. Supervision of the courts The Supreme Court has the additional duty of overseeing the activities of all courts in the state to make certain that justice is being administered fairly, effectively, and efficiently. The Supreme Court has published rules of superintendence and has established various committees and study groups to ensure the efficient operation of all Ohio courts. Judges of trial courts and intermediate appellate courts across the state are required to file regular reports with the Supreme Court on such matters as case loads and case flow statistical data. 13

8 Supervision of the practice of law The state constitution also gives the Supreme Court of Ohio authority to adopt and enforce rules for admission to the practice of law in Ohio and rules of ethical conduct for lawyers and judges. The court also disciplines lawyers and judges who do not comply with those rules. [For more detailed information, see Section VI of this Handbook: Lawyers. ] The Federal Courts The federal court structure is similar to Ohio s state court structure, with trial courts, intermediate courts of appeals and a Supreme Court. The federal courts are primarily concerned with administering the federal law, and they function independently of state courts. [Contact information for each of the federal trial and appellate courts serving Ohio is provided in the chart at the end of this chapter.] Web links: U.S. Judicial Administration: Federal Judicial Web site: District Courts The trial courts in the federal system are the U.S. District Courts. The district courts are courts of general jurisdiction and correspond to Ohio s common pleas courts, meaning they handle all types of criminal cases (felonies as well as misdemeanors) that arise under federal statutes, as well as many kinds of civil cases. For example, district courts handle: cases governed solely by federal law (bankruptcies; patents and copyrights; and admiralty the branch of law that governs shipping and navigation on the oceans, seas and navigable inland waterways); cases under the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes (cases involving interstate commerce, claims by one state against another, civil rights or antitrust claims); and diversity cases (claims by a citizen of one state against a citizen of another state where the amount of the claim is $75,000 or more). An example of a diversity case would be a claim by an Ohio resident against a Kentucky resident for injuries sustained in an auto accident that occurred in Ohio. If the amount involved was $75,000 or more, this case could be heard in a federal district court located in Ohio. Because the federal system does not have a common law of its own, the law of Ohio would be applied in such a case. Bankruptcy cases require an additional explanation. District courts have the power to handle bankruptcy cases, but have referred them in the past to bankruptcy courts. Technically, the bankruptcy court is part of the district court, although it operates as an independent court and handles almost all aspects of bankruptcy cases. [For more information on bankruptcy courts, see Section VI: Business Organizations, Contracts and Bankruptcy. ] Ohio is served by two federal district courts: the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The Northern District has a western division, based in Toledo, and an eastern division, based in Cleveland, with separate courts in Akron and Youngstown. The Southern District has a western division, based in 14

9 Cincinnati, with a separate court in Dayton, and an eastern division, based in Columbus. There is a bankruptcy court for the Northern District, as well as the Southern District. There are bankruptcy court offices and courtrooms in Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown, Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton. Judges of the U.S. District Court are appointed for a life term by the president of the United States, with confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Judges of the Bankruptcy Court are appointed for 14-year terms by the judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the circuit where the district court is located. U.S. Court of Appeals The U.S. Court of Appeals is an intermediate court of appeals. The U.S. Court of Appeals hears appeals from the district courts and its decisions may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It corresponds to Ohio s Court of Appeals and functions in much the same manner. The United States and its territories are divided into 13 circuits, with a court of appeals for each circuit. Ohio is in the Sixth Circuit, along with Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is based in Cincinnati. The president of the United States, with confirmation by the U.S. Senate, appoints all judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for life terms. Web Link: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit: The Supreme Court of the United States Just as the Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest court in the state, the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the nation and the court of last resort. It consists of the chief justice and eight associate justices, who are appointed for life terms by the president of the United States with confirmation by the U.S. Senate. The U.S. Supreme Court is the ultimate authority on many of the nation s most important issues. Over the years, those decisions have desegregated our nation s public schools, compelled a president to produce evidence in a pending criminal case, extended the rights of persons accused of crime, established equal voting rights, and resolved a disputed presidential election. Web link: U.S. Supreme Court: Web Links: OSBA s LawFacts pamphlet: Ohio s Courts OSBA s Law You Can Use column: What Is a Drug Court? Nolo s Web site: Federal and state court cases 15

10 National Center for State Courts portal to state and federal courts Northwestern University s Oyez Project oral arguments of the U.S. Supreme Court Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute Web site on judicial administration 16

11 FEDERAL TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS SERVING OHIO Court / Divisions U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio EASTERN DIVISION (Columbus) Location Phone Web site/ address U.S. Courthouse, Rm Marconi Blvd. Columbus, OH (614) ohsd.colinfo@ ohsd.uscourts.gov Counties Served Total of 48 counties; see breakdown below. (NOTE: Cases are generally, but not always, assigned by county of origin.) Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Union, Vinton, Washington WESTERN DIVISION (Cincinnati) (Dayton) U.S. Courthouse, Rm East Fifth Street Cincinnati, OH Federal Building, Rm West Second Street Dayton, OH (513) ohsd.cininfo@ ohsd.uscourts.gov (937) ohsd_dayinfo@ ohsd.uscourts.gov Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, Lawrence, Scioto, Warren Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio EASTERN DIVISION (Cleveland) (Akron) U.S. Courthouse, Rm W. Superior Avenue Cleveland, OH U.S. Courthouse, Rm.568 Two South Main Street Akron, OH (Youngstown) U.S. Courthouse, Rm Market Street Youngstown, OH WESTERN DIVISION (Toledo) U.S. Courthouse, Rm Spielbusch Avenue Toledo, OH Total of 40 counties, see breakdown below. (NOTE: Cases are generally, but not always, assigned by county of origin.) (216) Ashland, Ashtabula, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Richland (330) Carroll, Holmes, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Wayne (330) Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull (419) Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Lucas, Marion, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, Wood, Wyandot. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit U.S. Courthouse, Rm East Fifth Street Cincinnati, OH (513) Hears federal appeals from the District Courts in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee 17

12 OHIO DISTRICT COURTS OF APPEALS District Address Phone/Fax County(ies) Served 1st District Phone (513) Hamilton County 230 East Ninth St., 12th Floor Fax (513) Cincinnati, OH nd District 3rd District 4th District 5th District 6th District 7th District 8th District 9th District 41 N. Perry, P.O. Box 972 Dayton, OH P.O. Box 1243 Lima, OH A West Franklin Street Circleville, OH Central Plaza S. #320 Canton, OH Jackson Street Toledo, OH Mahoning County Courthouse Youngstown, OH Cuyahoga County Courthouse 1 Lakeside Avenue #202 Cleveland, OH South High Street, #504 Akron, OH Phone (937) Fax (937) Phone (419) Fax (419) Phone (740) Fax (740) Phone (330) Fax (330) Phone (419) Fax (419) Phone (330) Fax (330) Phone (216) Fax (216) Phone (330) Fax (330) Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties Allen, Auglaize, Crawford, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Marion, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Seneca, Shelby, Union, Van Wert and Wyandot Counties Adams, Athens, Gallia, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton and Washington Counties Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Guernsey, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Richland, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties Erie, Fulton, Huron, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Williams and Wood Counties Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson, Mahoning, Monroe & Noble Counties Cuyahoga County Lorain, Medina, Summit and Wayne Counties 10th District 11th District 373 South High Street 24th Floor Columbus, OH High Street, NE Warren, OH Phone (614) Fax (614) Phone (330) Fax (330) Franklin County Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Portage and Trumbull Counties 12th District P.O. Box 1009 Middletown, OH Phone (513) Fax (513) Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Madison, Preble and Warren Counties 18