Chapter 2701 | Courts Of Record - General Provisions

Section 2701.02 | Courts must render decisions within time limit.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When submitted to a court on motion, demurrer, or motion for new trial, or when submitted to a court on appeal on questions of law or on final trial on the issues joined, a cause begun in a court of record shall be determined and adjudicated within thirty days after such submission.

This section applies to causes sent to a referee or special master, and to motions affecting the confirmation, modification, or vacation of a report thereof. This section does not affect, alter, or change the rules of the supreme court.

Section 2701.03 | Disqualification of common pleas judge - affidavit.

• Effective: July 10, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 261 - 130th General Assembly

(A) If a judge of the court of common pleas allegedly is interested in a proceeding pending before the court, allegedly is related to or has a bias or prejudice for or against a party to a proceeding pending before the court or a party's counsel, or allegedly otherwise is disqualified to preside in a proceeding pending before the court, any party to the proceeding or the party's counsel may file an affidavit of disqualification with the clerk of the supreme court in accordance with division (B) of this section.

(B) An affidavit of disqualification filed under section 2101.39, 2501.13, 2701.031, or 2743.041 of the Revised Code or division (A) of this section shall be filed with the clerk of the supreme court not less than seven calendar days before the day on which the next hearing in the proceeding is scheduled and shall include all of the following:

(1) The specific allegations on which the claim of interest, bias, prejudice, or disqualification is based and the facts to support each of those allegations or, in relation to an affidavit filed against a judge of a court of appeals, a specific allegation that the judge presided in the lower court in the same proceeding and the facts to support that allegation;

(2) The jurat of a notary public or another person authorized to administer oaths or affirmations;

(3) A certificate indicating that a copy of the affidavit has been served on the probate judge, judge of a court of appeals, judge of a court of common pleas, judge of a municipal or county court, or judge of the court of claims against whom the affidavit is filed and on all other parties or their counsel;

(4) The date of the next scheduled hearing in the proceeding or, if there is no hearing scheduled, a statement that there is no hearing scheduled.

(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, when an affidavit of disqualification is presented to the clerk of the supreme court for filing under division (B) of this section, all of the following apply:

(a) The clerk of the supreme court shall accept the affidavit for filing and shall forward the affidavit to the chief justice of the supreme court.

(b) The supreme court shall send notice of the filing of the affidavit to the probate court served by the judge if the affidavit is filed against a probate court judge, to the clerk of the court of appeals served by the judge if the affidavit is filed against a judge of a court of appeals, to the clerk of the court of common pleas served by the judge if the affidavit is filed against a judge of a court of common pleas, to the clerk of the municipal or county court served by the judge if the affidavit is filed against a judge of a municipal or county court, or to the clerk of the court of claims if the affidavit is filed against a judge of the court of claims.

(c) Upon receipt of the notice under division (C)(1)(b) of this section, the probate court, the clerk of the court of appeals, the clerk of the court of common pleas, the clerk of the municipal or county court, or the clerk of the court of claims shall enter the fact of the filing of the affidavit on the docket of the probate court, the docket of the court of appeals, the docket in the proceeding in the court of common pleas, the docket of the proceeding in the municipal or county court, or the docket of the proceeding in the court of claims.

(2) The clerk of the supreme court shall not accept an affidavit of disqualification presented for filing under division (B) of this section if it is not timely presented for filing or does not satisfy the requirements of divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section.

(D)(1) Except as provided in divisions (D)(2) to (4) of this section, if the clerk of the supreme court accepts an affidavit of disqualification for filing under divisions (B) and (C) of this section, the affidavit deprives the judge against whom the affidavit was filed of any authority to preside in the proceeding until the chief justice of the supreme court, or a justice of the supreme court designated by the chief justice, rules on the affidavit pursuant to division (E) of this section.

(2) A judge against whom an affidavit of disqualification has been filed under divisions (B) and (C) of this section may do any of the following that is applicable:

(a) If, based on the scheduled hearing date, the affidavit was not timely filed, the judge may preside in the proceeding.

(b) If the proceeding is a domestic relations proceeding, the judge may issue any temporary order relating to spousal support pendente lite and the support, maintenance, and allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children.

(c) If the proceeding pertains to a complaint brought pursuant to Chapter 2151. or 2152. of the Revised Code, the judge may issue any temporary order pertaining to the relation and conduct of any other person toward a child who is the subject of a complaint as the interest and welfare of the child may require.

(3) A judge against whom an affidavit of disqualification has been filed under divisions (B) and (C) of this section may determine a matter that does not affect a substantive right of any of the parties.

(4) If the clerk of the supreme court accepts an affidavit of disqualification for filing under divisions (B) and (C) of this section, if the chief justice of the supreme court, or a justice of the supreme court designated by the chief justice, denies the affidavit of disqualification pursuant to division (E) of this section, and if, after the denial, a second or subsequent affidavit of disqualification regarding the same judge and the same proceeding is filed by the same party who filed or on whose behalf was filed the affidavit that was denied or by counsel for the same party who filed or on whose behalf was filed the affidavit that was denied, the judge against whom the second or subsequent affidavit is filed may preside in the proceeding prior to the ruling of the chief justice of the supreme court, or a justice designated by the chief justice, on the second or subsequent affidavit.

(E) If the clerk of the supreme court accepts an affidavit of disqualification for filing under divisions (B) and (C) of this section and if the chief justice of the supreme court, or any justice of the supreme court designated by the chief justice, determines that the interest, bias, prejudice, or disqualification alleged in the affidavit does not exist, the chief justice or the designated justice shall issue an entry denying the affidavit of disqualification. If the chief justice of the supreme court, or any justice of the supreme court designated by the chief justice, determines that the interest, bias, prejudice, or disqualification alleged in the affidavit exists, the chief justice or the designated justice shall issue an entry that disqualifies that judge from presiding in the proceeding and either order that the proceeding be assigned to another judge of the court of which the disqualified judge is a member pursuant to the court's random assignment process, to a judge of another court, or to a retired judge.

Section 2701.031 | Disqualification of municipal or county court judge.

• Effective: July 10, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 261 - 130th General Assembly

If a judge of a municipal or county court allegedly is interested in a proceeding pending before the judge, allegedly is related to or has a bias or prejudice for or against a party to a proceeding pending before the judge or to a party's counsel, or allegedly otherwise is disqualified to preside in a proceeding pending before the judge, any party to the proceeding or the party's counsel may file an affidavit of disqualification with the clerk of the supreme court. The affidavit of disqualification shall be filed and decided in accordance with divisions (B) to (E) of section 2701.03 of the Revised Code, and, upon the filing of the affidavit, the provisions of those divisions apply to the affidavit, the proceeding, the judge, and the parties to the proceeding.

Section 2701.04 | Removal of residence of judge.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If a judge of the supreme court removes his residence from this state, or a judge of the court of appeals from his district, or a judge of the court of common pleas from his county, he is deemed to have resigned and vacated his office. Thereupon the governor shall fill such vacancy.

Section 2701.05 | Commission to judge of the supreme court.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Each commission issued by the governor to a judge of the supreme court, upon the demand of such person, shall be delivered to him by the secretary of state. On or before the first day of his official term under such commission, the person to whom it is issued shall appear before the supreme court, or before a judge thereof if the court is not in session, and take the oath required by Section 7 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution and sections 3.22 and 3.23 of the Revised Code. The taking of such oath shall be shown by entry upon the journal of the supreme court.

Section 2701.06 | Transmitting commission.

• Effective: March 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 699 - 126th General Assembly

The secretary of state shall transmit each commission issued by the governor to a judge of the court of appeals or a judge of the court of common pleas, to the clerk of the court of common pleas of the county in which that judge resides. The clerk shall receive the commission and forthwith transmit it to the person entitled to it. The person shall take the oath as provided in Section 7 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution and sections 3.22 and 3.23 of the Revised Code.

Section 2701.07 | Court constables - duties.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When, in the opinion of the court, the business thereof so requires, each court of common pleas, court of appeals, and, in counties having at the last or any future federal census more than seventy thousand inhabitants, the probate court, may appoint one or more constables to preserve order, attend the assignment of cases in counties where more than two judges of the court of common pleas regularly hold court at the same time, and discharge such other duties as the court requires. When so directed by the court, each constable has the same powers as sheriffs to call and impanel jurors, except in capital cases.

Section 2701.08 | Court constables - compensation.

• Effective: September 24, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 94 - 105th General Assembly

Each constable appointed under section 2701.07 of the Revised Code shall receive the compensation fixed by the judge or judges of the court making the appointment, to be paid monthly from the county treasury upon warrant of the county auditor.

In counties where only one judge holds court, the constable, when not attending the court of common pleas, shall upon order of the judge of such court of common pleas, and without additional compensation, attend the probate court and the court of appeals of such county.

Section 2701.09 | Publication of court calendar.

• Effective: March 22, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 595 - 132nd General Assembly

In any county in which a daily law journal is printed, the judges of the courts of record, other than the court of appeals, shall jointly designate such daily law journal as the journal in which shall be published all calendars of the courts of record in such county, which calendars shall contain the numbers and titles of causes, and names of attorneys appearing in the causes, together with the motion dockets and such particulars and notices respecting causes, as may be specified by the judges, and each notice required to be published by any of those judges.

In all cases, proceedings, administrations of estates, assignments, and matters pending in any of the courts of record of the counties in which legal notices or advertisements are required to be published, the law journal shall, once a week and on the same day of the week, publish an abstract of each such legal advertisement, but the jurisdiction over, or irregularity of, a proceeding, trial, or judgment shall not be affected by anything in the abstract of legal advertising.

For the publication of such calendars, motion dockets, and notices, the fees for which are not fixed by law, the publisher of the paper shall receive a sum to be fixed by the judges for each case brought, to be paid in advance by the party filing the petition, transcripts for appeal, or lien, unless the party is determined by the court to qualify as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code, to be taxed in the costs and collected as other costs. For the publication of abstracts of legal advertising the publisher shall receive a sum to be fixed by the judges for each case, proceeding, or matter, in which such advertising is had, to be taxed and collected as a part of the costs of the case, proceeding, or matter.

Section 2701.10 | Referrals for adjudication of civil actions or proceedings to retired judges.

• Effective: August 17, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 7 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Any voluntarily retired judge, or any judge who is retired under Section 6 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution, may register with the clerk of any court of common pleas, municipal court, or county court for the purpose of receiving referrals for adjudication of civil actions or proceedings, and submissions for determination of specific issues or questions of fact or law in any civil action or proceeding, pending in the court. There is no limitation upon the number, type, or location of courts with which a retired judge may register under this division. Upon registration with the clerk of any court under this division, the retired judge is eligible to receive referrals and submissions from that court, in accordance with this section. Each court of common pleas, municipal court, and county court shall maintain an index of all retired judges who have registered with the clerk of that court pursuant to this division and shall make the index available to any person, upon request.

(B)(1) The parties to any civil action or proceeding pending in any court of common pleas, municipal court, or county court unanimously may choose to have the action or proceeding in its entirety referred for adjudication, or to have any specific issue or question of fact or law in the action or proceeding submitted for determination, to a judge of their choosing who has registered with the clerk of that court in accordance with division (A) of this section.

If the parties unanimously do choose to have a referral or submission made to a retired judge pursuant to this section, all of the parties to the action or proceeding shall enter into a written agreement with the retired judge that does all of the following:

(a) Designates the retired judge to whom the referral or submission is to be made;

(b) If a submission is to be made, describes in detail the specific issue or question to be submitted;

(c) Indicates either of the following:

(i) That the action or proceeding in its entirety is to be referred to, and is to be tried, determined, and adjudicated by that retired judge;

(ii) Indicates that the issue or question is to be submitted, and is to be tried and determined by that retired judge.

(d) Indicates that the parties will assume the responsibility for providing facilities, equipment, and personnel reasonably needed by the retired judge during the retired judge's consideration of the action or proceeding and will pay all costs arising out of the provision of the facilities, equipment, and personnel;

(e) Identifies an amount of compensation to be paid by the parties to the retired judge for the retired judge's services and the manner of payment of the compensation;

(f) Indicates a procedure for terminating the agreement with the retired judge.

(2) In any case described in division (B)(1) of this section, the agreement shall be filed with the clerk of the court or the judge before whom the action or proceeding is pending. The judge before whom the action or proceeding is pending shall address the agreement within fourteen days after its filing. That judge, by journal entry, may, at the judge's discretion, order the referral or submission in accordance with the agreement. No referral or submission shall be made to a retired judge under this section, unless the parties to the action or proceeding unanimously choose to have the referral or submission made, enter into an agreement of the type described in division (B)(1) of this section with the retired judge, and file the agreement in accordance with this division.

(C) Upon the entry of an order of referral or submission in accordance with division (B)(2) of this section, the retired judge to whom the referral or submission is made, relative to the action or proceeding referred or the issue or question submitted, shall have all of the powers, duties, and authority of an active judge of the court in which the action or proceeding is pending. The court in which the action or proceeding is pending is not required to provide the retired judge with court or other facilities, equipment, or personnel during the retired judge's consideration of the action, proceeding, issue, or question. The retired judge shall not receive any compensation, other than that agreed to by the parties and the retired judge, for the retired judge's services during consideration of the action, proceeding, issue, or question.

(D)(1) A retired judge to whom a referral is made under this section shall try all of the issues in the action or proceeding, shall prepare relevant findings of fact and conclusions of law, and shall enter a judgment in the action or proceeding in the same manner as if the retired judge were an active judge of the court. A retired judge to whom a submission is made under this section shall try the specific issue or question submitted, shall prepare relevant findings of fact or conclusions of law, shall make a determination on the issue or question submitted, and shall file the findings, conclusions, and determination with the clerk of the court in which the action or proceeding is pending. Any judgment entered, and any finding of fact, conclusion of law, or determination of an issue or question made, by a retired judge in accordance with this section shall have the same force and effect as if it had been entered or made by an active judge of the court, and any appeal from the judgment, finding, conclusion, or determination shall be made as if the judgment had been entered, or the finding, conclusion, or determination had been made, by an active judge of the court.

(2) Upon conclusion of the referred action or proceeding or determination of the submitted issue or question, jurisdiction is returned to the referring judge.

(E) Any judge who registers with any court in accordance with division (A) of this section may have the judge's name removed from the index of registered retired judges maintained by that court at any time after the registration. On and after the date of removal of the name of a retired judge from the index of a court, the retired judge is not eligible under this section to receive referrals or submissions from that court.

(F) This section does not affect, and shall not be construed as affecting, the provisions of section 141.16 of the Revised Code. This section does not apply to any action or proceeding pending in a small claims division of a municipal court or county court.

Last updated May 20, 2021 at 2:14 PM

Section 2701.11 | Rules for retirement for disability, removal and suspension for cause of judges.

• Effective: April 4, 1985
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 426 - 115th General Assembly

Subject to rules implementing this section and section 2701.12 of the Revised Code that shall be promulgated by the supreme court, upon written and sworn complaint setting forth the cause or causes and after reasonable notice thereof and an opportunity to be heard, any judge may be retired for disability, removed for cause, or suspended, without pay, for cause by a commission composed of five judges of this state, all of whom shall be appointed by the supreme court from among judges of the courts of record located within the territorial jurisdiction in each of any five of the appellate districts, not including that within which the respondent judge resides.

Such a commission shall be appointed by the supreme court upon receipt of a report of its board of commissioners on grievances and discipline that such board has received a written and sworn complaint alleging that cause exists for retirement, removal, or suspension of a judge under section 2701.12 of the Revised Code, and that upon investigation and a finding by at least two-thirds of the members of such board that there is substantial credible evidence in support of such complaint. Any judge so retired, removed, or suspended may appeal, on the record made before the commission, from the commission's action to the supreme court. The commission, the court, or a judge of the court may stay execution of an order pending disposition of an appeal. The court may affirm, reverse, or modify the order of the commission.

Members of the commission shall be reimbursed from the state treasury for their actual and necessary expenses in connection with their service on the commission.

The administrative director of the supreme court shall be the secretary of each commission appointed to consider retirement, removal, or suspension of a judge. The secretary shall certify each order of a commission which commands the retirement, removal, or suspension of a judge to the governor, the chief justice of the supreme court, and the officer required by law to draw warrants for payment of the salary of such judge.

Upon the request of any such commission, the attorney general shall assist in the performance of its duties.

Section 2701.12 | Removal, suspension or retirement of judge.

• Effective: October 30, 1965
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 334 - 106th General Assembly

(A) Cause for removal or suspension of a judge from office without pay under section 2701.11 of the Revised Code exists when he has, since first elected or appointed to judicial office:

(1) Engaged in any misconduct involving moral turpitude, or a violation of such of the canons of judicial ethics adopted by the supreme court as would result in a substantial loss of public respect for the office;

(2) Been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; or

(3) Been disbarred or suspended for an indefinite period from the practice of law for misconduct occurring before such election or appointment.

(B) Grounds for retirement of a judge from office for disability exist when he has a permanent physical or mental disability which prevents the proper discharge of the duties of his office.

(C) Grounds for suspension without pay of a judge from office for disability exist when he has a physical or mental disability which will prevent the proper discharge of the duties of his office for an indefinite time.

Section 2701.15 | Court may not order abortion.

• Effective: September 16, 1974
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 989 - 110th General Assembly

No person shall be ordered by a court to submit to an abortion.

Section 2701.17 | Misprision of clerk.

• Effective: March 17, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 412 - 116th General Assembly

A mistake, neglect, or omission of the clerk of a court is not a ground of error until it has been presented and acted upon in the court in which the mistake, neglect, or omission occurred.

Section 2701.18 | Premature judgment deemed clerical error.

• Effective: March 17, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 412 - 116th General Assembly

Rendering judgment before the action stood for trial according to Title XIX, XXI, XXIII, XXV, XXVII, or XXIX of the Revised Code and any rules applicable to a court shall be deemed a clerical error.

Section 2701.19 | Lien of judgment on appeal.

• Effective: March 17, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 412 - 116th General Assembly

When the party against whom a judgment is rendered appeals his cause, the lien of the opposite party on the real estate of the appellant that was created by the judgment, shall not be removed or vacated. The real estate shall be bound in the same manner as if the appeal had not been taken, until final determination of the cause.

Section 2701.20 | Clerk's refusal of documents materially false or fraudulent.

• Effective: November 6, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 644 - 121st General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, if a person presents a document to the clerk of a court of record for filing or for docketing and indexing, the clerk may refuse to accept the document for filing or refuse to docket and index the document if the document is not required or authorized to be filed or to be docketed and indexed with the clerk or the clerk has reasonable cause to believe the document is materially false or fraudulent. This division does not create a duty upon the clerk to inspect, evaluate, or investigate a document that is presented for filing or for docketing and indexing.

(B) If the clerk of a court of record, pursuant to division (A) of this section, refuses to accept a document for filing or refuses to docket and index a document, the person who presented the document to the clerk may commence an action in or apply for an order from the court that the clerk serves to require the clerk to accept the document for filing or to docket and index the document. If the court determines that the document is appropriate for filing or for docketing and indexing, it shall order the clerk to accept the document for that purpose.

(C) If the clerk of a court of record, acting under this section in a manner that is not described in division (A)(6)(b) of section 2744.03 of the Revised Code, improperly refuses to accept a document for filing or refuses to docket and index a document, the clerk shall not be personally liable on account of the improper refusal and the surety that issued the bond shall not have a right of subrogation against the clerk on account of a claim made on the clerk's bond as a result of the improper refusal.