Courts System
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Courts System Information By County
All states, including Ohio, have a two-court system: state courts and federal courts. Ohio's state courts are divided into three levels: trial courts, appellate courts, and the state supreme court. Trial courts consist of municipal, county, and common pleas courts. Common pleas courts may include separate general, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile divisions. The appeals courts are intermediate-level appellate courts that hear appeals from the trial courts in both civil and criminal matters. The Supreme Court of Ohio is the state's highest appellate court.
Courts We Practice In
Cuyahoga County
Take advantage of the experiential-learning opportunities built into many programs. You can work in labs on and off
hears felony offenses that took place in Cuyahoga County.
Berea Municipal Court: hears misdemeanors and traffic offenses from Brook Park, Berea, Olmsted Falls, Strongsville, and Middleburg Heights
Parma Municipal Court: hears misdemeanors and traffic offenses from North Royalton, Parma Heights, Parma, Seven Hills, and Broadview Heights
Rocky River Municipal Court: hears misdemeanors and traffic offenses from Rocky River, North Olmsted, Westlake, and Bay Village
Cleveland Municipal Court: hears misdemeanors and traffic offenses from the City of Cleveland
Strongsville Mayor's Court
Brook Park Mayor's Court
Olmsted Falls Mayor's Court
Middleburg Heights Mayor's Court
North Royalton Mayor's Court
Parma Heights Mayor's Court
Seven Hills Mayor's Court
Broadview Heights Mayor's Court
North Olmsted Mayor's Court
Medina County
Take advantage of the experiential-learning opportunities built into many programs. You can work in labs on and off
hears felony offenses that took place in Medina County.
Medina Municipal Court: hears misdemeanors and traffic offenses from Brunswick, City of Medina, Township of Brunswick Hills
Brunswick Mayor's Court
Lorain County
Take advantage of the experiential-learning opportunities built into many programs. You can work in labs on and off
hears felony offenses that took place in Lorain County.
Elyria Municipal Court - hears misdemeanors and traffic offenses from Elyria North Ridgeville
North Ridgeville Mayor's Court
Municipal Courts
Municipal courts handle traffic offenses and criminal misdemeanors. If you are ticketed for a traffic infraction, like reckless driving, suspended license, or any type of misdemeanor offense, your case will likely be heard in a Cuyahoga County municipal court in which you were ticketed or arrested. If you are not sure of where to go to argue against the traffic ticket or defend yourself against a misdemeanor charge, contact Godinsky Law LLC. Our legal team has extensive experience in handling cases in the greater Cleveland area. Including specialized experience representing clients in municipal courts which can be used to your advantage when representing your case.
Mayor's Courts
You may go to an Ohio mayor’s court in order to resolve a case without going before a judge. Mayor’s courts have the ability to prosecute a variety of offenses, including any violations of municipal ordinances—except for cases involving domestic violence, violations of protection orders, felonious and aggravated assault, assault, menacing by stalking, or aggravated trespassing. Additionally, mayor’s courts have the ability to hear OVI cases. The only limit placed upon the ability to hear an OVI case is if a defendant has been convicted or pleaded guilty to an OVI within the six years prior to being charged with the current OVI.
Ohio Misdemeanor Sentencing
Municipal Courts only handle misdemeanor cases. In Ohio, a minor misdemeanor is the least severe misdemeanor charge and a First Degree Misdemeanor is the most severe. The penalties (jail, fine, etc.) increase by the degree of misdemeanor.
DEGREE
First Degree
JAIL TIME
Up To 180 Days
MAXIMUM FINE
$1,000
Second Degree
Up To 90 Days
$750
Third Degree
Up To 60 Days
$500
Fourth Degree
Up To 30 Days
$250
Minor Misdemeanor
None
$150
Need More Information?
Visit our Misdemeanors article for a comprehensive breakdown of misdemeanors in Ohio.
Ohio Felony Sentencing
Common Pleas Courts only handle felony cases. In Ohio, an F5 is the least severe felony charge and an F1 is the most severe. The penalties (prison, fine, etc.) increase by the degree of felony you are charged with.
DEGREE
First Degree
PRISON TIME
3-11 Years
MAXIMUM FINE
$20,000
Second Degree
2-8 Years
$10,000
Third Degree
9-36 Months
12-60 Months
$7,500
Fourth Degree
6-18 Months
$5,000
Fifth Degree
6-12 Months
$2,500
Need More Information?
Visit our felonies article for a comprehensive breakdown of felonies in Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand how confusing and stressful the legal process can be. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear from clients. Have a question that's not answered here? Give us a call, we'd be happy to help.
Each municipal court has a different number of municipal court judges, depending on a particular municipality’s population. In some counties, one judge handles all municipal court divisions. In other counties, one judge may handle two or more divisions.
Each municipal court assigns cases differently. Generally, if there is more than one judge, each civil case is randomly assigned when the case is filed. For a criminal case, the on-duty judge will generally handle the defendant’s arraignment. At the arraignment, the defendant is informed of the charges and enters a plea of guilty or not guilty.
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Property Damage
- Pain & Suffering
Municipal court judges are elected to six-year terms. Municipal court judges must be attorneys with at least six years of experience in the practice of law.
No. Juries hear some cases, but other times a case is brought directly before a judge, who decides the matter. However, in a misdemeanor criminal case, the defendant has a right to a jury of eight people, and all eight must agree to a verdict of guilty or not guilty.
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