Each case is heard and decided by a three-judge panel. The state is divided into 12 appellate districts. Each district is served by a court of appeals that sits in each of the counties in that district. The number of judges in each district depends on a variety of factors, including the court's caseload and the size of the district. Each county in Ohio also has a common pleas court that decides probate, juvenile and domestic cases.
Some counties also have county and municipal court systems.
Creating new laws and changing existing ones are two of the most important functions of state government. Any proposal for a new law or for changing an existing law must begin as a bill in Ohio's General Assembly. Most bills require a majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass. If a bill passes in both chambers, it is then presented to the governor to be signed. The governor has 10 days to sign or veto a bill.