Source: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1907
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 10:56:15+00:00

Document:
There is hereby created in each county of the state, in which the territorial jurisdiction of a municipal court or municipal courts is not coextensive with the boundaries of the county, a court to be known as the county court. The county court shall have jurisdiction throughout a county court district that shall consist of all territory within the county not subject to the territorial jurisdiction of any municipal court. County courts are courts of record for all purposes of law.
In addition to the territorial jurisdiction conferred by section 1907.01 of the Revised Code, the county courts of Adams, Belmont, Jefferson, Meigs, and Monroe counties have jurisdiction beyond the north or northwest shore of the Ohio river extending to the opposite shore line, between the boundary lines of any adjacent municipal courts or adjacent county courts. Each of the county courts that is given jurisdiction on the Ohio river by this section has concurrent jurisdiction on the Ohio river with any adjacent municipal courts or adjacent county courts that border on that river and with any court of Kentucky or of West Virginia that borders on the Ohio river and that has jurisdiction on the Ohio river under the law of Kentucky or the law of West Virginia, whichever is applicable, or under federal law.
1907.012 Jurisdiction over violations of township resolutions.
In addition to other jurisdiction granted a county court in the Revised Code, a county court has jurisdiction over violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code. For procedural purposes, a case in which a person is charged with the violation of a township resolution shall be treated as a civil case, except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code and except that a violation of a township resolution that is adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 of the Revised Code and that creates a criminal offense or imposes criminal penalties shall be treated as a criminal case.
Effective Date: 09-17-1991; 08-17-2006 .
(1) In addition to other jurisdiction granted a county court in the Revised Code, a county court has jurisdiction of all misdemeanor cases. A county court has jurisdiction to conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases, to bind over alleged felons to the court of common pleas, and to take other action in felony cases as authorized by Criminal Rule 5.
(2) A judge of a county court does not have the authority to dismiss a criminal complaint, charge, information, or indictment solely at the request of the complaining witness and over the objection of the prosecuting attorney, village solicitor, city director of law, or other chief legal officer who is responsible for the prosecution of the case.
(B) A county court has jurisdiction of the violation of a vehicle parking or standing ordinance, resolution, or regulation if a local authority, as defined in division (D) of section 4521.01 of the Revised Code, has specified that it is not to be considered a criminal offense, if the violation is committed within the limits of the court's territory, and if the violation is not required to be handled by a parking violations bureau or joint parking violations bureau pursuant to Chapter 4521. of the Revised Code. A county court does not have jurisdiction over violations of ordinances, resolutions, or regulations that are required to be handled by a parking violations bureau or joint parking violations bureau pursuant to that chapter.
A county court also has jurisdiction of an appeal from a judgment or default judgment entered pursuant to Chapter 4521. of the Revised Code, as authorized by division (D) of section 4521.08 of the Revised Code. Any such appeal shall be placed on the regular docket of the court and shall be determined by a judge of the court.
(C) A county court has jurisdiction over an appeal of a written decision rendered by a hearing officer under section 4511.099 of the Revised Code if the hearing officer that rendered the decision was appointed by a local authority within the jurisdiction of the court.
Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 342, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.
1907.03 Jurisdiction in civil actions.
(A) Under the restrictions and limitations of this chapter, county courts have exclusive original jurisdiction in civil actions for the recovery of sums not exceeding five hundred dollars and original jurisdiction in civil actions for the recovery of sums not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars.
(B) If a counterclaim is filed in a civil action in a county court and the counterclaim exceeds fifteen thousand dollars, the county court shall certify the action to the court of common pleas.
(C) If a civil action is certified to the court of common pleas pursuant to division (B) of this section, the clerk of the county court forthwith shall transmit to the court of common pleas the original papers and pleadings in the action and a certified transcript of the journal entries in it. The action then shall proceed in the court of common pleas as if it had been originally commenced in that court.
Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.75, HB 14, §1, eff. 5/22/2012.
1907.032 Jurisdiction where property not removed at expiration of campsite use agreement.
In addition to the jurisdiction authorized in other sections of this chapter, a county court has original jurisdiction in actions filed under section 3729.13 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 04-03-2003; 10-13-2004 .
1907.04 Temporary location of court in event of emergency.
(A) In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, civil disorder, or any extraordinary circumstance that interrupts or threatens to interrupt the orderly operation of a county court within the territorial jurisdiction of the court, the administrative judge of the court may issue an order authorizing the court to operate at a temporary location inside or outside the territorial jurisdiction of the court. The order shall identify the temporary location at which the court shall operate and the date on which operations shall commence at the temporary location. The court shall operate at the temporary location until the administrative judge withdraws, cancels, or rescinds the order.
Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 290, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.
1907.041, 1907.042 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.11, 1907.12.
1907.05 Jurisdiction concerning title to real estate.
(B) In actions to recover from the owner of adjoining land the equal proportion to the expense incurred in obtaining evidence in surveys to fix corners or settle boundary lines.
1907.051 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.13.
1907.06 Jurisdiction in cases of replevin - appraisals of property.
(A) County courts have exclusive, original jurisdiction in all cases of replevin in which the value of the specific personal property that is sought to be recovered does not exceed five hundred dollars and original jurisdiction in all cases of replevin in which the value of the specific personal property that is sought to be recovered does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars.
(B) Upon the filing of a replevin action, the county court shall order appraisals of the property. The appraisals shall be made under oath by at least two disinterested freeholders who are residents of the court's territorial jurisdiction or as the court otherwise directs. If the value of the property according to the appraisals exceeds fifteen thousand dollars, the court shall certify the action to the court of common pleas. If a replevin action is certified to the court of common pleas, the clerk of the county court shall take action as described in division (C) of section 1907.03 of the Revised Code.
1907.061 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.14.
1907.07 Balance not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars.
When the balance claimed to be due on an open or unsettled account or on a bill, note, or bond, is fifteen thousand dollars or less, the party by whom the balance is claimed may commence an action for the balance before a county court. The court may hear and determine the matters in controversy, without regard to the original account or contract, and render judgment for any balance found due, not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars.
1907.071 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.15.
1907.08 Action on bond or undertaking.
In civil actions founded upon a bond or undertaking, a judge of a county court has jurisdiction coextensive with his county.
1907.081, 1907.082 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.16, 1907.17.
1907.09 Judgment confessed for sum not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars.
If a debtor appears before a county court, without process and confesses that the debtor is indebted a debt owed to a creditor, on the application of the creditor, the court shall render judgment on the confession against the debtor for a sum not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars.
1907.091 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.19.
1907.10 Concurrent criminal jurisdiction of mayor's court.
Mayors retain jurisdiction in all criminal cases involving the violation of ordinances of their respective municipal corporations and in all criminal cases involving moving traffic violations occurring on state highways located within their respective municipal corporations, to be exercised concurrently with the county court.
1907.101 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.20.
1907.11 [Effective Until 1/1/2020] Number of judges.
Until December 31, 2007, in the Erie county county court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1982. Effective January 1, 2008, the Erie county county court shall cease to exist.
Until December 31, 2006, in the Sandusky county county court, two part-time judges shall be elected in 1994, terms to commence on January 1, 1995, and January 2, 1995, respectively. The judges elected in 2006 shall serve until December 31, 2012. The Sandusky county county court shall cease to exist on January 1, 2013.
(1) Additional judges shall be elected at the next regular election for a county court judge as provided in section 1907.13 of the Revised Code.
Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 25, §1, eff. 1/1/2018.
Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.52, HB 338, §1, eff. 1/1/2011.
1907.11 [Effective 1/1/2020] Number of judges.
Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 215, §1, eff. 1/1/2020.
1907.121 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.21.
1907.13 Qualifications of county court judges.
A county court judge, at the time of filing a nominating petition for the office or at the time of appointment to the office and during the judge's term of office, shall be a qualified elector and a resident of the county court district in which the judge is elected or appointed. A county court judge does not have to be a resident of an area of separate jurisdiction in the county court district to which the judge may be assigned pursuant to section 1907.15 of the Revised Code. Every county court judge shall have been admitted to the practice of law in this state and shall have been engaged, for a total of at least six years preceding the judge's appointment or the commencement of the judge's term, in the practice of law in this state, except that the six-year practice requirement does not apply to a county court judge who is holding office on the effective date of the amendment of this section by H.B. 487 of the 129th general assembly, and who subsequently is a candidate for that office.
Judges shall be elected by the electors of the county court district at the general election in even-numbered years as set forth in section 1907.11 of the Revised Code for a term of six years commencing on the first day of January following the election for the county court or on the dates specified in section 1907.11 of the Revised Code for particular county court judges. Their successors shall be elected in even-numbered years every six years.
All candidates for county court judge shall be nominated by petition. The nominating petition shall be in the general form and signed and verified as prescribed by section 3513.261 of the Revised Code and shall be signed by the lesser of fifty qualified electors of the county court district or a number of qualified electors of the county court district not less than one per cent of the number of electors who voted for governor at the most recent regular state election in the district. A nominating petition shall not be accepted for filing or filed if it appears on its face to contain signatures aggregating in number more than twice the minimum aggregate number of signatures required by this section. A nominating petition shall be filed with the board of elections not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the general election.
1907.131 Presiding and administrative judge.
(A) In a county court district having only one judge, that judge shall be the presiding and administrative judge for that district.
(B) In a county court district having two or more judges, the presiding and administrative judge shall be elected or designated as provided in the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.
(A) A judge of a county court shall take an oath of office as provided in section 3.23 of the Revised Code.
Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 261, §1, eff. 7/10/2014.
1907.141 Assigned and substitute judges.
(1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of a county court that consists of only one judge or if the judge of a county court of that nature is incapacitated or unavailable due to disqualification, suspension, or recusal, the chief justice of the supreme court may assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.
Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 261, §1, eff. 7/10/2014.
(A) An acting judge appointed pursuant to division (A)(2)(a), (B)(1), or (C)(1) of section 1907.141 of the Revised Code shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses and a per diem compensation established by the incumbent judge, provided the per diem compensation of the acting judge shall not exceed the per diem compensation paid to the incumbent judge based upon a work year of one hundred thirty days. The per diem compensation of the acting judge shall be payable in the same manner as the compensation paid to the incumbent judge during the same period.
(1) Subject to reimbursement under division (B) of this section, the treasurer of the county in which a county court is located shall pay the per diem compensation to which an acting judge appointed pursuant to division (A)(2)(b), (B)(1), or (C)(1) of section 1907.141 of the Revised Code is entitled pursuant to division (A) of section 1907.142 of the Revised Code.
1907.15 Division of county court district.
(1) In counties having more than one county court judge, subject to division (A)(2) of this section, the presiding judge of the county court may divide the county court district into areas of separate jurisdiction and may designate the location at which each judge shall hold court. Except in county court districts exceeding one hundred twenty thousand population, each area of separate jurisdiction shall be made up of one or more townships. In assigning areas of separate jurisdiction, the presiding judge shall make each area of separate jurisdiction as equal in population and case load to others in the district as is possible under existing conditions.
Whenever the territory of a county court district is reduced by the territorial expansion of municipal court jurisdiction, the presiding judge may redetermine areas of separate jurisdiction and, if necessary, reassign areas so as to make each area of separate jurisdiction as equal in population and case load to others in the district as is possible under the altered conditions.
In county court districts exceeding one hundred twenty thousand population, subject to division (A)(2) of this section, the presiding judge of the county court may assign more than one county court judge to an area of separate jurisdiction. In any county court district of that nature, subject to division (A)(2) of this section, the presiding judge from time to time may assign a judge from one area of separate jurisdiction to another area of separate jurisdiction and redetermine and reassign areas of separate jurisdiction. Upon that redetermination and reassignment, the presiding judge shall consider, in addition to population, the case load of each area of separate jurisdiction.
(2) The presiding judge of the county court of Jefferson county shall determine areas of separate jurisdiction for the judges of the Jefferson county county court in the manner described in division (A)(1) of this section but subject to the provisions of this division governing the location in which each judge shall hold court. The judge of the Jefferson county county court whose term commences January 1, 1993, and that judge's successors, shall hold court in Wintersville. The judge of the Jefferson county county court whose term commences January 1, 1995, and that judge's successors, shall hold court in Dillonvale. The judge of the Jefferson county county court whose term commences January 2, 1995, and that judge's successors, shall hold court in Toronto.
(3) In counties having only one county court judge, the area of jurisdiction shall consist of the entire county court district, and the county court judge, with the concurrence of the board of county commissioners, shall designate the location at which the judge shall hold court.
(B) The jurisdiction of each county court judge shall be coextensive with the boundaries of the county court district.
1907.16 Compensation of county court judges.
(A) Beginning July 1, 1997, judges of a county court shall receive as compensation thirty-five thousand five hundred dollars each year in addition to the compensation payable under division (A)(6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code.
(B) The compensation of judges of a county court may be paid in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, and shall be paid from the treasury of the county in which the court is situated.
A judge of a county court shall be disqualified from the practice of law only as to matters pending or originating in that county court during the judge's term of office. No county court judge shall hold any other office of trust or profit under the authority of this state or the United States.
(C) The presiding judge of a county court who is also the administrative judge of the court shall receive, pursuant to division (B) of this section, an additional one thousand five hundred dollars per annum.
(D) As used in this section, "compensation" does not include any portion of the cost, premium, or charge for health, medical, hospital, dental, or surgical benefits, or any combination of those benefits, covering a judge of the county court and paid on the judge's behalf from the treasury of the county in which the court is located.
1907.161 Group health care coverage for county court judges.
(A) As used in this section, "health care coverage" means sickness and accident insurance or other coverage of hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, eye care, medical care, hearing aids, and prescription drugs or any combination of those benefits or services.
(B) The board of county commissioners, after consultation with the judges of the county court, shall negotiate and contract for, purchase, or otherwise procure group health care coverage for the judges and their spouses and dependents from insurance companies authorized to engage in the business of insurance in this state under Title XXXIX  of the Revised Code or health insuring corporations organized under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, except that, if the county provides group health care coverage for its employees, the group health care coverage required by this section shall be provided, if possible, through the policy or plan under which the group health care coverage is provided for the county employees.
(C) The portion of the costs, premiums, or charges for the group health care coverage procured pursuant to division (B) of this section that is not paid by the judges of the county court, or all of the costs, premiums, or charges for the group health care coverage if the judges will not be paying any portion of those costs, premiums, or charges, shall be paid out of the county treasury.
1907.17 Commissioners may provide additional compensation.
In addition to the compensation provided in section 1907.16 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners may provide for payment of a fixed annual amount, not to exceed two thousand dollars, to each county court judge.
1907.18 County court judges - jurisdiction and authority.
(1) County court judges have jurisdiction and authority to perform marriage ceremonies anywhere in the state.
(2) A county court judge shall pay all marriage fees collected by the judge when not connected with any cause or proceeding pending in the county court to the treasurer of the county in which the court is located.
1907.181 Order for accused to appear for fingerprinting.
(A) If a sheriff or chief of police has not taken, or caused to be taken, a person's or child's fingerprints in accordance with division (A)(1) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code with respect to a crime or act set forth in that division by the time of the arraignment or first appearance of the person or child with respect to that crime or act, the county court shall order the person or child to appear before the sheriff or chief of police within twenty-four hours of the arraignment or first appearance to have the person's or child's fingerprints taken as provided in division (A)(2) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code.
(B) If the county court has jurisdiction over a case involving a person or child with respect to whom division (A)(1) or (2) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code requires a sheriff or chief of police to take the person's or child's fingerprints, the county court shall inquire at the time of the person's or child's sentencing or adjudication for the crime or act for which the fingerprints were required to be taken whether or not the person or child has been fingerprinted pursuant to division (A)(1) or (2) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code for the original arrest or court appearance upon which the sentence or adjudication is based. If a person or child was not fingerprinted for the original arrest or court appearance, the county court shall order the person or child to appear before the sheriff or chief of police within twenty-four hours to have the person's or child's fingerprints taken as provided in division (A)(3) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 03-17-1987; 2008 SB163 08-14-2008 .
1907.19 Office space and materials for court.
The board of county commissioners shall provide for each county court judge in the county suitable court and office space and all materials necessary for the business of the court, including a current set of the Revised Code.
1907.20 Powers and duties of county court clerk.
(A) The clerk of courts shall be the clerk of the county court, except that the board of county commissioners, with the concurrence of the county court judges, may appoint a clerk for each county court judge, who shall serve at the pleasure of the board and shall receive compensation as set by the board, payable in semimonthly installments from the treasury of the county. Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, an appointed clerk, before entering upon the duties of the office, shall give bond of not less than five thousand dollars, as determined by the board of county commissioners, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.
(C) The clerk of a county court shall receive and collect all costs, fees, fines, penalties, bail, and other moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court and issue receipts therefor, and shall on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected disburse the costs, fees, fines, penalties, bail, and other moneys to the proper persons or officers and take receipts therefor. Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, 4511.193, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and all other statutes that require a different distribution of fines, fines received for violations of municipal ordinances shall be paid into the treasury of the municipal corporation whose ordinance was violated, fines received for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code shall be paid into the treasury of the township whose resolution was violated, and fines collected for the violation of state laws shall be paid into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for costs shall be retained pending the litigation.
(1) In county court districts having appointed clerks, deputy clerks may be appointed by the board of county commissioners. Clerks and deputy clerks shall receive such compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the county treasury as the board may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.
(1) In county court districts having appointed clerks, the board of county commissioners may order the establishment of one or more branch offices of the clerk and, with the concurrence of the county judges, may appoint a special deputy clerk to administer each branch office. Each special deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform any one or more of the duties appertaining to the office of clerk, as the board prescribes. Special deputy clerks shall receive such compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the county treasury as the board may prescribe. Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, the board may require any of the special deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.
Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.176, HB 197, §1, eff. 3/22/2013.
Effective Date: 01-01-2004; 08-17-2006; 2008 HB420 01-01-2010 .
(A) The judge or judges of a county court may appoint an interpreter, one or more mental health professionals, one or more probation officers, an assignment commissioner, a deputy assignment commissioner, and other court aides on a full-time, part-time, per diem, hourly, or other basis, who shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing judge or judges and who shall receive compensation as prescribed by the board of county commissioners from the county treasury or other authorized funds. Probation officers have all the powers of deputy sheriffs or regular police officers and shall perform any duties that are designated by the judge or judges of the court. Assignment commissioners shall assign cases for trial and perform any other duties that the court directs.
(B) The judge or judges may appoint one or more typists, stenographers, statistical clerks, bookkeepers, and official court reporters, each of whom shall be paid compensation as prescribed by the board of county commissioners from the county treasury or other authorized funds.
(C) A probation officer, assignment commissioner, or official court reporter appointed pursuant to this section is in the unclassified civil service.
Repealed by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §2, eff. 9/8/2016.
1907.21 Alphabetical index to docket.
Each clerk of a county court shall keep an alphabetical index to his docket, in which he shall enter the names of the parties to each judgment, direct and reverse, with a reference to the page of the entry. The names of the parties shall be entered in the index in the alphabetical order of the first letter of the family name. The clerk shall number the cases progressively on his docket, and shall correspondingly number the papers in each case. The clerk shall keep the entire papers in each action together, in packages of proper and convenient size, and in the order in which the cases are numbered on his docket.
1907.211 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.55.
1907.22 Depositing official dockets with successor clerk.
Upon the expiration of his term of office, the clerk of a county court shall deposit with his successor such clerk's official dockets, the official dockets of his predecessors that are in his custody, and all files, papers, and other materials that pertain to his office and that are kept at his office as public records and property.
1907.23 Receipt for official dockets of county court.
A clerk of a county court who receives by succession dockets, files, papers, and materials as provided in section 1907.22 of the Revised Code shall, if requested, give a receipt for them to the person from whom they are received.
1907.231 Documentation of criminal convictions and guilty pleas to be retained in admissible form.
Notwithstanding section 149.38 of the Revised Code, each clerk of a county court shall retain documentation regarding each criminal conviction and plea of guilty involving a case that is or was before the court. The documentation shall be in a form that is admissible as evidence in a criminal proceeding as evidence of a prior conviction or that is readily convertible to or producible in a form that is admissible as evidence in a criminal proceeding as evidence of a prior conviction and may be retained in any form authorized by section 9.01 of the Revised Code. The clerk shall retain this documentation for a period of fifty years after the entry of judgment in the case, except that documentation regarding cases solely concerned with minor misdemeanor offenses or minor misdemeanor traffic offenses shall be retained as provided in divisions (A) and (B) of section 1901.41 of the Revised Code, and documentation regarding other misdemeanor traffic offenses shall be retained for a period of twenty-five years after the entry of judgment in the case. This section shall apply to records currently retained and to records created on or after September 23, 2004.
Effective Date: 09-23-2004; 03-23-2005 .
1907.24 Schedule of fees and costs.
(1) The county court shall require an advance deposit for the filing of any new civil action or proceeding when required by division (C) of this section, subject to its waiver pursuant to that division, and, in all other cases, shall establish a schedule of fees and costs to be taxed in any civil or criminal action or proceeding.
(2) The county court by rule may require an advance deposit for the filing of a civil action or proceeding and publication fees as provided in section 2701.09 of the Revised Code. The court shall waive an advance deposit requirement for a party that the court determines qualifies as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code.
(3) When a party demands a jury trial in a civil action or proceeding, the county court may require the party to make an advance deposit as fixed by rule of court, unless the court determines that the party qualifies as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code. If a jury is called, the county court shall tax the fees of a jury as costs.
(4) In a civil or criminal action or proceeding, the county court shall fix the fees of witnesses in accordance with sections 2335.06 and 2335.08 of the Revised Code.
(5) A county court may tax as part of the costs in a trial of the cause, in an amount fixed by rule of court, a reasonable charge for driving, towing, carting, storing, keeping, and preserving motor vehicles and other personal property recovered or seized in a proceeding.
(6) The court shall preserve chattel property seized under a writ or process issued by the court pending final disposition for the benefit of all interested persons. The court may place the chattel property in storage when necessary or proper for its preservation. The custodian of chattel property so stored shall not be required to part with the possession of the property until a reasonable charge, to be fixed by the court, is paid.
(7) The county court, as it determines, may refund all deposits and advance payments of fees and costs, including those for jurors and summoning jurors, when they have been paid by the losing party.
(8) The court may tax as part of costs charges for the publication of legal notices required by statute or order of court, as provided by section 7.13 of the Revised Code.
(a) The county court may determine that, for the efficient operation of the court, additional funds are necessary to acquire and pay for special projects of the court including, but not limited to, the acquisition of additional facilities or the rehabilitation of existing facilities, the acquisition of equipment, the hiring and training of staff, community service programs, mediation or dispute resolution services, the employment of magistrates, the training and education of judges, acting judges, and magistrates, and other related services. Upon that determination, the court by rule may charge a fee, in addition to all other court costs, on the filing of each criminal cause, civil action or proceeding, or judgment by confession.
(b) If the county court offers a special program or service in cases of a specific type, the county court by rule may assess an additional charge in a case of that type, over and above court costs, to cover the special program or service. The county court shall adjust the special assessment periodically, but not retroactively, so that the amount assessed in those cases does not exceed the actual cost of providing the service or program.
(c) Any fee or charge assessed under division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section on the filing of a civil action or proceeding shall be waived if the court determines that the person on whom the fee or charge is assessed qualifies as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code.
(d) All moneys collected under division (B) of this section shall be paid to the county treasurer for deposit into either a general special projects fund or a fund established for a specific special project. Moneys from a fund of that nature shall be disbursed upon an order of the court in an amount no greater than the actual cost to the court of a project. If a specific fund is terminated because of the discontinuance of a program or service established under division (B) of this section, the county court may order that moneys remaining in the fund be transferred to an account established under this division for a similar purpose.
(C) Subject to division (E) of this section, the county court shall collect in all its divisions except the small claims division the sum of twenty-six dollars as additional filing fees in each new civil action or proceeding for the charitable public purpose of providing financial assistance to legal aid societies that operate within the state and to support the office of the state public defender. Subject to division (E) of this section, the county court shall collect in its small claims division the sum of eleven dollars as additional filing fees in each new civil action or proceeding for the charitable public purpose of providing financial assistance to legal aid societies that operate within the state and to support the office of the state public defender. This division does not apply to any execution on a judgment, proceeding in aid of execution, or other post-judgment proceeding arising out of a civil action. The filing fees required to be collected under this division shall be in addition to any other court costs imposed in the action or proceeding and shall be collected at the time of the filing of the action or proceeding. The court shall not waive the payment of the additional filing fees in a new civil action or proceeding unless the court waives the advanced payment of all filing fees in the action or proceeding for the party that the court determines is qualified as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code. All such moneys collected during a month except for an amount equal to up to one per cent of those moneys retained to cover administrative costs shall be transmitted on or before the twentieth day of the following month by the clerk of the court to the treasurer of state in a manner prescribed by the treasurer of state or by the Ohio legal assistance foundation. The treasurer of state shall deposit four per cent of the funds collected under this division to the credit of the civil case filing fee fund established under section 120.07 of the Revised Code and ninety-six per cent of the funds collected under this division to the credit of the legal aid fund established under section 120.52 of the Revised Code.
(D) The county court shall establish by rule a schedule of fees for miscellaneous services performed by the county court or any of its judges in accordance with law. If judges of the court of common pleas perform similar services, the fees prescribed in the schedule shall not exceed the fees for those services prescribed by the court of common pleas.
(E) Under the circumstances described in sections 2969.21 to 2969.27 of the Revised Code, the clerk of the county court shall charge the fees and perform the other duties specified in those sections.
1907.25 Alternative methods for collecting court costs; notice of balance due.
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a county court finds that a person who is found guilty of an offense is unable to pay costs, the court may order the offender to perform community service in lieu of costs.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a county court finds that a person who is found guilty of an offense will not be able to pay costs in full when they are due, the court may order the offender to pay the costs in installments according to a schedule set by the court.
the court may enter information relative to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar of motor vehicles pursuant to division (C) of this section and send the form to the registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of the Revised Code.
The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the registrar pursuant to division (C) of this section and sending the form to the registrar.
(C) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to county courts forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of payment of fines or costs under division (B) of this section. The registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.
The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission, the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form that is not transmitted electronically.
Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 143, §1, eff. 9/19/2014.
Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.176, HB 197, §1, eff. 3/22/2013.
1907.251 Cancellation of uncollectible debts.
1907.26 Transmitting fees and costs.
Judges of a county court shall not retain any of the costs or fees specified in the schedules adopted pursuant to section 1907.24 of the Revised Code nor shall they retain a fee for performing a marriage ceremony. Those costs and fees that cannot be retained shall be transmitted to the general fund of the county on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected.
1907.261 Computerizing court of paying cost of computerized legal research.
(1) A county court may determine that for the efficient operation of the court additional funds are required to computerize the court, to make available computerized legal research services, or to do both. Upon making a determination that additional funds are required for either or both of those purposes, the court shall include in its schedule of fees and costs under section 1907.24 of the Revised Code one additional fee not to exceed three dollars on the filing of each cause of action or appeal equivalent to one described in division (A), (Q), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code and shall direct the clerk of the court to charge the fee.
(2) All fees collected under this section shall be paid on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed either upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds, in an amount not greater than the actual cost to the court of computerizing the court, procuring and maintaining computerized legal research services, or both.
(1) A county court may determine that, for the efficient operation of the court, additional funds are required to computerize the office of the clerk of the court and, upon that determination, may include in its schedule of fees and costs under section 1907.24 of the Revised Code 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 that is equivalent to one described in division (A), (P), (Q), (T), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code. Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, all moneys collected under division (B)(1) of this section shall be paid on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed, upon an order of the county court and subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, in an amount no greater than the actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining computer systems for the office of the clerk of the county court.
(2) If a county court makes the determination described in division (B)(1) of this section, the board of county commissioners of that county 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 county 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 and financing costs related to any general obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section as they become due. General obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section are Chapter 133. securities.
1907.262 Rules for procedures for resolution of disputes.
(A) A county court may establish by rule procedures for the resolution of disputes between parties. Any procedures so adopted shall include, but are not limited to, mediation. If the court establishes any procedures under this division, the court may include in the court's schedule of fees and costs under section 1907.24 of the Revised Code a reasonable fee, that is to be collected on the filing of each civil or criminal action or proceeding, and that is to be used to implement the procedures, and the court shall direct the clerk of the court to charge the fee.
(B) All fees collected under division (A) of this section shall be paid to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed either upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds.
(C) If the court determines that the amount of the moneys in the fund described in division (B) of this section is more than the amount sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee described in division (A) of this section was imposed, the court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, expend the surplus moneys, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds, expend the surplus moneys, for other appropriate expenses of the court.
1907.27 Determination of witness fees.
Witness fees in relation to civil and criminal actions and proceedings shall be determined in accordance with Chapter 2335 of the Revised Code.
A county court may provide, by rule, how jurors shall be chosen, and may provide that jurors to be used in the court may be chosen and summoned by the jury commissioners of the county as provided in Chapter 2313. of the Revised Code. Selection shall be made from residents within the county court district, and, if Chapter 2313. of the Revised Code is followed, those appearing to reside outside the district shall be returned to the annual jury list.
Jurors shall be impaneled in the same manner, shall have the same qualifications, shall be challenged for the same causes, and shall receive the same fees as jurors in the court of common pleas. The fees of jurors in any criminal case that involves a violation of state law shall be paid out of the county treasury, and the fees of jurors in any case that involves a violation of a municipal ordinance shall be paid out of the treasury of the municipal corporation that enacted the ordinance.
(A) A jury trial shall be demanded in the manner prescribed in the Rules of Civil Procedure or the Rules of Criminal Procedure. The number of persons composing a jury and the verdicts of jurors shall be governed by those rules.
(B) The right of a person to a jury trial is waived under the circumstances prescribed in the Rules of Civil Procedure or the Rules of Criminal Procedure.
(C) If, as a result of challenges or other causes, a jury panel is not full, the deputy sheriff or constable who is in attendance at a trial before a county court may fill the panel in the same manner as the sheriff fills a panel in the court of common pleas.
(D) The judge of the county court involved in a case shall administer an oath to the jury to try the matters in difference between the parties that are to be determined by the jury, and to give a verdict in accordance with the evidence.
(E) After the jurors are sworn in a case before a county court, they shall sit together and hear the proofs and allegations of the parties. After the hearing, the jury shall be kept together in a convenient place until they have agreed upon their verdict or have been discharged by the county court judge involved in the case.
(F) If an action being tried to a jury in a county court is continued, the jurors shall attend at the time and place appointed for trial without further notice.
(G) The judge of a county court involved in a case may punish as for contempt any juror who neglects or refuses to attend when properly summoned or who, although in attendance, refuses to serve.
(H) If, in a civil action before a county court, the judge is satisfied that the number of jurors required by Civil Rule 48 for concurrence purposes cannot concur in a verdict, and the jury has deliberated upon the verdict for a reasonable time, the judge may discharge the jury and continue the action. If either party requests a new jury, the judge shall cause the selection of another jury. If the action is continued, it shall be continued to a time that the judge considers reasonable unless the parties or their attorneys agree on a longer or shorter time.
Appeals from the final judgments of a county court may be taken to the court of appeals for the county in which the judgment was rendered.
1907.31 Application of rules of procedure.
(A) The Rules of Civil Procedure, the Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Rules of Evidence apply in civil and criminal actions and proceedings before a county court unless otherwise specifically provided in the Revised Code.
(B) The Rules of Appellate Procedure govern appeals from a county court to the court of appeals.
A defendant in a civil action in a county court may be arrested under the circumstances and in the manner specified in Chapter 2713. of the Revised Code for arrests of defendants in the courts of common pleas, but references in that chapter to a county sheriff shall be construed to include constables who are ministerial officers of a county court. The bail and deposit of money in lieu of bail provisions of that chapter also shall apply to defendants in a county court.
1907.33 Attachment and garnishment actions.
(A) In a civil action for the recovery of money that is before a judge of a county court, the plaintiff may have an order of attachment against the property, other than personal earnings, of the defendant upon or at any time after its commencement, only in accordance with Chapter 2715. of the Revised Code. Additionally, in such a civil action before a judge of a county court, an attachment against the property, other than personal earnings, of a defendant, that is in the possession of another person, may be accomplished prior to the entry of judgment only pursuant to a garnishment proceeding in accordance with section 2715.091 and related provisions of Chapter 2715. of the Revised Code.
(B) An attachment against the personal earnings of a person, through an action in garnishment of personal earnings, may be granted in a county court only after a judgment has been obtained by the plaintiff and only in accordance with Chapter 2716. of the Revised Code. Additionally, attachment against the property, other than personal earnings, of a person against whom a judgment has been obtained and that is in the possession of another person, may be accomplished in a county court only pursuant to a garnishment proceeding in accordance with Chapter 2716. of the Revised Code.
1907.34 Returns showing only real estate.
In any case in which an order of attachment has been issued by a judge of a county court pursuant to Chapter 2715. of the Revised Code, if it appears from the return of the officer to whom the order was directed and from the examination of the garnishee, if there is a garnishee in the case, that no property, moneys, rights, credit, or effects of the defendant in the case have been taken under the attachment, but that the defendant is the owner of an interest in real estate in the county, the judge before whom the action is pending, at the request of the plaintiff in the case, shall promptly certify his proceedings to the court of common pleas. Thereupon, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall docket the cause, and the action shall proceed as if it had originated in that court.
In actions, under section 1907.34 of the Revised Code, for a sum, of which county court judges have exclusive original jurisdiction, if the defendant is not a resident of the county, the fact of nonresidence is a ground of attachment in the court of common pleas.
1907.36 Recovery of specific personal property prior to judgment.
In any civil action involving a claim for the recovery of specific personal property that is before a judge of a county court, a party may recover the possession of the specific personal property prior to the entry of judgment only as provided in Chapter 2737. of the Revised Code.
1907.37 Warrant for arrest of witness.
When it appears to a judge of a county court that a witness was served with a subpoena to appear and give testimony before him in any matter in which he has authority to require the witness to appear and testify, that the testimony of that witness is material, and that he refuses or neglects to attend in conformity with the subpoena, the judge shall issue a warrant to arrest the witness for the purpose of compelling his attendance and punishing his disobedience.
When a witness arrested under section 1907.37 of the Revised Code is brought before the judge of the county court, or when a person in attendance refuses to testify as a witness, and no valid excuse is shown, the judge may punish the person as for contempt, and, if he does so, the judge shall enter any fine or imprisonment imposed on the docket. An entry indicating a fine has the effect of a judgment in favor of this state against the witness or person, and it may be enforced against his person or property.
If a witness who is subpoenaed in an action before a judge of a county court attends and is not examined by either party, the costs of that witness shall be paid by the party ordering the subpoena, unless the adverse party, by confessing the matter or otherwise, renders the examination unnecessary.
1907.391 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.56.
Every person who is subpoenaed as a witness in the county court and who neglects to appear or refuses to testify, is liable to the party in whose behalf he was subpoenaed, for all damages that the party sustains by reason of the nonappearance or refusal to testify.
(A) The provisions of sections 2711.01 to 2711.15 of the Revised Code relating to arbitration shall apply to county courts, subject to the jurisdiction provisions of this chapter.
(B) Arbitration also may occur in accordance with sections 1907.42 to 1907.46 of the Revised Code.
1907.411 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.57.
In an action before a judge of a county court, at any time before trial and before judgment is rendered, the parties may have a cause submitted to the arbitration of three disinterested men, to be chosen by them. If the arbitrators are present, they shall hear and determine the cause on oath, to be administered by the judge. If the arbitrators are not present, the judge shall issue a summons for them to attend at the time and place appointed for the trial. That summons shall be served by the sheriff or any constable, or by the parties, as they may agree. The fees of the arbitrators are the same as those provided for jurors in the court of common pleas.
1907.43 Award, judgment, and execution.
When the arbitrators mentioned in section 1907.42 of the Revised Code convene and are qualified, they shall hear and determine the cause, make out their award in writing, and return it to the judge of the county court. The award is valid when signed by any two of the arbitrators. The judge shall enter the award on his docket, render judgment on it, and issue execution, as in other cases.
Every judgment rendered on an award under section 1907.43 of the Revised Code, concludes the rights of the parties, unless it appears to the county court judge who rendered the judgment within ten days from its rendition, or to the court of appeals on appeal, that the award was obtained by fraud, corruption, or other undue means.
1907.45 County court judge may set aside award.
When, within the period mentioned in section 1907.44 of the Revised Code, satisfactory proof is adduced before the judge of the county court that the award was obtained by fraud, corruption, or other undue means, the judge may set aside the award and his judgment on it, and proceed to final trial and judgment, as if the award never had been made.
An appeal shall be allowed to the court of appeals from the judgment of a judge of a county court rendered under section 1907.43 of the Revised Code on an award, on the ground that the award was obtained by fraud, corruption, or other undue means.
If the court of appeals determines that the award was obtained by fraud, corruption, or other undue means, it shall enter its judgment and remand the case to the judge of the county court for trial and judgment.
1907.47 Execution - proceedings in aid of execution.
Execution and proceedings in aid of execution in a county court shall be in accordance with Chapters 2327., 2329., 2331., and 2333. of the Revised Code and with any other provisions of the Revised Code that relate to execution and proceedings in aid of execution in the courts of common pleas.
1907.48 Judge may issue executions for another judge.
Any county court judge may issue executions on judgments on the docket of a judge of the same district, who is unable to issue them in consequence of sickness, absence, or other cause.
A judgment that is rendered by a judge of a county court and that is dormant, may be revived in the manner prescribed for reviving dormant judgments in the court of common pleas. If sufficient cause is not shown to the contrary, the judgment shall stand revived for the amount that the judge finds to remain due and unsatisfied upon it.
An order to revive issued pursuant to section 1907.49 of the Revised Code shall be served and returned in the time and manner required for the service of summons in actions before a judge of a county court.
Sections 1907.49 and 1907.50 of the Revised Code do not prevent the revivor, in the manner prescribed by law, of judgments of judges of county courts, transcripts of which are filed in the court of common pleas and entered upon its execution docket.
1907.511 Amended and Renumbered RC 1907.53.
Service by publication may be made in a civil action in a county court under the circumstances and in the manner in which service by publication may be made in the courts of common pleas.
(1) Each judge of a county court may appoint a bailiff on a full-time or part-time basis. The bailiff shall receive compensation as prescribed by the appointing judge, and the compensation is payable in semimonthly installments from the treasury of the county or other authorized fund. Before entering upon the duties of the office, a bailiff shall take an oath to faithfully perform those duties and shall give a bond of not less than three thousand dollars, as the appointing judge prescribes, conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties as bailiff.
(2) The board of county commissioners may purchase motor vehicles for the use of the bailiff that the court determines necessary to perform the duties of the office. The board, upon approval by the court, shall pay all expenses, maintenance, and upkeep of the vehicles from the county treasury or other authorized fund. Any allowances, costs, and expenses for the operation of private motor vehicles by the bailiffs for official duties, including the cost of oil, gasoline, and maintenance, shall be prescribed by the court and subject to the approval of the board and shall be paid from the county treasury or other authorized fund.
(1) In a county court district in which no bailiff is appointed pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section, every deputy sheriff of the county, every police officer of a municipal corporation within the jurisdiction of the court, every member of a township or joint police district police force, and every police constable of a township within the county court district is ex officio a bailiff of the court in and for the county, municipal corporation, or township within which the deputy sheriff, police officer, police force member, or police constable is commissioned and shall perform, in respect to cases within that jurisdiction and without additional compensation, any duties that are required by a judge of the court or by the clerk of the court. In a county court in which a bailiff is appointed pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section, every deputy sheriff of the county is ex officio a bailiff of the county court, but shall not perform county court services similar to those performed by the sheriff for the court of common pleas unless those services are requested by the court.
(2) At the request of a county court judge, a deputy sheriff or constable shall attend the county court while a trial is in progress.
(1) Except as provided in division (B)(1) of this section, a bailiff and an ex officio bailiff shall perform for the county court services similar to those performed by the sheriff for the court of common pleas and shall perform any other duties that are required by rule of court.
(2) The bailiff may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and receive verdicts in the same manner and form and to the same extent as the clerk or deputy clerks of the county court. The bailiff may approve all undertakings and bonds given in actions of replevin and all redelivery bonds in attachments.
(D) Bailiffs and deputy bailiffs are in the unclassified civil service.
Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 8, §1, eff. 3/23/2018.
1907.531 County court contracts for transportation of persons between jail and court.
A county court may enter into contracts with a county sheriff whose territorial jurisdiction includes the court for the transportation of persons between the county jail and the county court. Each contract shall provide for the costs of providing transportation services from the county jail to the court and shall not apply to a period in excess of four years.
Added by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 8, §1, eff. 3/23/2018.
1907.54 Appointment of special constables - duties.
Upon the written application of the director of administrative services or of three freeholders of the county in which a county court judge resides, the judge may appoint one or more electors of the county as special constables. In order to be eligible to serve as a special constable, an elector shall hold a valid certificate issued by the Ohio peace officer training commission.
The special constables shall guard and protect the property of this state, or the property of such freeholders and the property of this state under lease to such freeholders, designated in general terms in the application, from all unlawful acts, and, so far as necessary for that purpose, a special constable has the same authority and is subject to the same obligations as other constables.
1907.55 Appointment of special constable.
The judge of a county court appointing a special constable pursuant to section 1907.54 of the Revised Code, shall make a memorandum of the appointment upon the judge's docket. The appointment shall continue in force for one year, unless the judge revokes it sooner. A special constable shall be paid in full for the special constable's services by the freeholders for whose benefit the special constable was appointed, and shall receive no compensation except from those freeholders.
If a county court judge wishes to reappoint an elector for a successive one-year period, before the elector may be appointed the elector shall have successfully completed a firearms requalification program approved by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general under section 109.743 of the Revised Code.
1907.56 Prohibition against purchasing of judgment.
No judge of a county court shall purchase any judgment upon a docket in his possession.
1907.57 Prohibition against failure to deliver official dockets and papers.
No judge of a county court shall refuse, upon lawful demand, to deliver any docket, papers, files, or other matter to the person entitled to them.

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