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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 2153 | Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court

 
 
 
Section
Section 2153.01 | Juvenile court division established.
 

There is hereby established within the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county a juvenile division, which shall be styled "the court of common pleas, juvenile court division," referred to in sections 2153.02 to 2153.17 of the Revised Code, as "the juvenile court."

Section 2153.02 | Judges - qualifications.
 

The juvenile court shall consist of six judges, each of whom, at the time of his election or appointment, shall be a qualified elector and resident of Cuyahoga county and shall have been admitted to practice as an attorney at law in this state for a period of at least six years immediately preceding his appointment or commencement of his term. They shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile court division, and shall exercise the same powers and jurisdiction and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas.

Section 2153.03 | Election of judges - terms of office - administrative judge.
 

Each of the judges of the juvenile court division shall be elected for six years at the general election immediately preceding the year in which the term, as provided in this section, commences, and the judge's successor shall be elected at the general election immediately preceding the expiration of such term.

Each judge shall be elected by the electors of Cuyahoga county in the same manner as is provided for the election of judges of the court of common pleas. The terms of office of the judges of the juvenile court shall begin as follows: January 1, 1959, January 2, 1959, January 1, 1963, January 2, 1963, January 3, 1977, and January 3, 1987. Each of the judges of the juvenile court shall have the same judicial duties.

In addition to the judge's regular judicial duties, one of the judges shall be the administrator of the juvenile court's subdivisions and departments.

The administrative judge shall be elected in the manner provided by rule 3 of the rules adopted by the supreme court of Ohio for the superintendence of the common pleas court. During any absence from the court by the administrative judge, the administrative judge may designate one of the other judges to serve in the administrative judge's place and stead as the clerk of the court and as the administrator of the court's subdivisions and departments.

Section 2153.05 | Substitute judge - vacancies.
 

In case of the temporary absence or disability of a juvenile judge, or when the volume of cases pending in the juvenile court necessitates the assistance of an additional judge, and upon the request of a juvenile judge, the presiding judge of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county shall designate a judge of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county to act as juvenile judge during the absence or disability. If no judge of the court of common pleas is available for that purpose, the chief justice of the supreme court shall designate a juvenile judge, a probate judge, or a judge of the court of common pleas from another county to act as judge. Such judge shall receive the compensation for his services and expenses that is provided by section 141.07 of the Revised Code for judges of the courts of common pleas designated by the chief justice to hold court outside their respective counties.

Vacancies occurring in the office of the juvenile judge of Cuyahoga county shall be filled in the manner prescribed for the filling of vacancies in the office of the judges of the courts of common pleas.

Section 2153.06 | Removal from office.
 

A juvenile judge is subject to the same disabilities and may be removed from office for the same causes and in the same manner as a judge of the court of common pleas.

Section 2153.07 | Accommodations for court.
 

The board of county commissioners of Cuyahoga county shall provide suitable accommodations, facilities, and equipment for the juvenile court, its officers, and employees. The expense of maintaining and operating the court shall be paid out of the treasury of Cuyahoga county.

Section 2153.08 | Administrative judge to be clerk of court - may appoint deputies and clerks - bonds.
 

The administrative juvenile judge shall have the care and custody of the files, papers, books, records, and moneys pertaining to the juvenile court, and shall be the clerk of said court, with all the powers and duties of a clerk of the court of common pleas in connection with the business of said juvenile court. He may appoint and employ such deputies, clerks, stenographers, and other assistants and attaches as are reasonably necessary in connection with the work of said court, and shall file with the county auditor certificates of such appointments. Any such appointee may be dismissed by the administrative judge. Each appointee shall qualify by taking the oath of office required of the clerk of the court of common pleas under sections 3.22 and 3.23 of the Revised Code. When so qualified, each deputy clerk may perform the duties of the clerk and shall have the same powers as a deputy clerk of the court of common pleas in matters of which the court of common pleas now has concurrent jurisdiction by virtue of section 2151.07 of the Revised Code. The administrative judge may require any of his appointees to give bond in the sum of not less than one thousand dollars, conditioned for the honest and faithful performance of his duties. The approval of the sureties, the terms, the filing, and the beneficiaries of such bonds shall be the same as in the case of the bond of the clerk under section 2153.10 of the Revised Code. The clerk shall not be personally liable for the default, misfeasance, or nonfeasance of any appointee from whom a bond has been required, approved, and filed as provided in this section.

Section 2153.081 | Computerizing court of paying cost of computerized legal research.
 

(A)(1) The juvenile judges may determine that, for the efficient operation of their court, additional funds are required to computerize the court, to make available computerized legal research services, or both. Upon making a determination that additional funds are required for either or both of those purposes, the judges shall authorize and direct the clerk or a deputy clerk of the court to charge one additional fee not to exceed three dollars on the filing of each cause of action or appeal under division (A), (Q), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code.

(2) All moneys collected under division (A)(1) of this section shall be paid to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall place the moneys from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed, upon an order of the juvenile judges, in an amount no greater than the actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining computer systems for the clerk's office, computerized legal research services, or both.

(3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund described in division (A)(2) of this section are more than sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the court may declare a surplus in the fund and expend those surplus funds for other appropriate technological expenses of the court.

(B)(1) The juvenile judges may determine that, for the efficient operation of their court, additional funds are required to computerize the office of the clerk of the juvenile court and, upon that determination, may authorize and direct the clerk or a deputy clerk of the court to charge an additional fee, not to exceed ten dollars, on the filing of each cause of action or appeal, on the filing, docketing, and endorsing of each certificate of judgment, or on the docketing and indexing of each aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify a judgment under divisions (A), (P), (Q), (T), and (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code. Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, all moneys collected under this division shall be paid to the county treasurer to be disbursed, upon an order of the juvenile judges and subject to appropriation by the board of county commissioners, in an amount no greater than the actual cost to the juvenile court of procuring and maintaining computer systems for the clerk's office.

(2) If the juvenile judges make the determination described in division (B)(1) of this section, the board of county commissioners may issue one or more general obligation bonds for the purpose of procuring and maintaining the computer systems for the office of the clerk of the juvenile court. In addition to the purposes stated in division (B)(1) of this section for which the moneys collected under that division may be expended, the moneys additionally may be expended to pay debt charges on and financing costs related to any general obligation bonds issued pursuant to this division as they become due. General obligation bonds issued pursuant to this division are Chapter 133. securities.

Section 2153.09 | Compensation of employees.
 

The compensation of the employees of the juvenile court shall be fixed by the administrative juvenile judge, which compensation shall not exceed in the aggregate the amount fixed by the board of county commissioners for such purpose. Such compensation so fixed shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly installments on the warrant of the county auditor.

Section 2153.10 | Bond of clerk - amount.
 

Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, before entering upon official duties, the administrative juvenile judge, as judge and clerk of the juvenile court, and each judge shall execute and file with the county treasurer of Cuyahoga county a bond in the sum of not less than five thousand dollars, to be determined by the board of county commissioners of Cuyahoga county, with sufficient surety, to be approved by said board, conditioned for the faithful performance of such duties as clerk. Said bond shall be given for the benefit of Cuyahoga county, the state, and any person who may suffer loss by reason of a default in any of the conditions of said bond.

Section 2153.11 | Bailiffs - compensation.
 

The administrative juvenile judge may appoint one or more bailiffs to preserve order and perform such other duties as such judge requires, as provided for constables in section 2701.07 of the Revised Code. The compensation of any such appointee shall be fixed and paid on the same basis as provided by section 2701.08 of the Revised Code for the compensation of constables in the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county.

Section 2153.12 | Calendar of court - term.
 

The calendar of the juvenile court shall be divided into four terms of three months each commencing on the first day of January, April, July, and October of each year. All actions and other business of the court pending at the expiration of any term of court shall be continued to the following term of court without any special or general entry or order to that effect. The juvenile judges may adjourn the court from day to day or to any other day in the same term whenever, in their opinion, the business of the court permits.

Section 2153.13 | Contempt proceedings.
 

The juvenile court has the same jurisdiction in contempt of court proceedings provided for the court of common pleas and for other courts of record.

Section 2153.14 | Seal of court - form.
 

The juvenile court shall have a seal which shall consist of the coat of arms of the state within a circle one and one-fourth inches in diameter and shall be surrounded by the words, "the juvenile court of Cuyahoga county, Ohio." Such seal shall have no other words or device engraved thereon. Such seal shall be affixed to the processes of the court, which shall be attested and be in the general form and served as provided for process of the court of common pleas.

Section 2153.15 | May vacate and modify judgments.
 

The juvenile court has the same power to vacate and modify its own judgments or orders during or after term as the probate court has under section 2101.33 of the Revised Code, and may adopt, publish, and revise rules and regulations for practice in said court not inconsistent with sections 2153.01 to 2153.17, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 2153.16 | Jurisdiction of court.
 

The juvenile court shall exercise the jurisdiction and powers conferred upon the court by Chapters 2151. and 2152. and other sections of the Revised Code, unless the jurisdiction and powers are inconsistent with sections 2153.01 to 2153.17 of the Revised Code or are plainly inapplicable.

Section 2153.17 | Laws now in force to apply.
 

The sections of the Revised Code regulating the manner and grounds of appeal from any judgment, order, or decree rendered by the court of common pleas in the exercise of juvenile jurisdiction shall apply to the juvenile court.