As Introduced

127th General Assembly Regular Session 2007-2008

H. B. No. 527

Representative Koziura 

---

A BILL

To amend sections 2101.01, 2301.02, and 2301.03 of

1

the Revised Code to prevent the changes provided

2

for in Am. Sub. S.B. 128 of the 126th General

3

Assembly with regard to the probate judge and the

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judges of the Domestic Relations Division of the

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Lorain County Court of Common Pleas from going

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into effect.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 2101.01, 2301.02, and 2301.03 of the	8
Revised Code be amended to read as follows:	9

Sec. 2101.01. (A) A probate division of the court of common	10
pleas shall be held at the county seat in each county in an office	11
furnished by the board of county commissioners, in which the	12
books, records, and papers pertaining to the probate division	13
shall be deposited and safely kept by the probate judge. The board	14
shall provide suitable cases or other necessary items for the	15
safekeeping and preservation of the books, records, and papers of	16
the court and shall furnish any blankbooks, blanks, and	17
stationery, and any machines, equipment, and materials for the	18
keeping or examining of records, that the probate judge requires	19
in the discharge of official duties. The board also shall	20
authorize expenditures for accountants, financial consultants, and	21
other agents required for auditing or financial consulting by the	22
probate division whenever the probate judge considers these	23
services and expenditures necessary for the efficient performance	24
of the division's duties. The probate judge shall employ and	25
supervise all clerks, deputies, magistrates, and other employees	26
of the probate division. The probate judge shall supervise all	27
probate court investigators and assessors in the performance of	28
their duties as investigators and assessors and shall employ,	29
appoint, or designate all probate court investigators and	30
assessors in the manner described in divisions (A)(2) and (3) of	31
section 2101.11 of the Revised Code.	32

(B) As used in the Revised Code:

33

(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section,	34
"probate court" means the probate division of the court of common	35
pleas, and "probate judge" means the judge of the court of common	36
pleas who is judge of the probate division.	37

(2) With respect to Lorain county:

38

(a) From, from January 1, 2006, through February 8, 2009	39
until the effective date of this amendment, "probate court" means	40
both the probate division and the domestic relations division of	41
the court of common pleas, and "probate judge" means both the	42
judge of the court of common pleas who is judge of the probate	43
division and each of the judges of the court of common pleas who	44
are judges of the domestic relations division.	45

(b) On and after February 9, 2009, "probate court" means the	46
domestic relations division of the court of common pleas, and	47
"probate judge" means each of the judges of the court of common	48
pleas who are judges of the domestic relations division.	49

(C) Except as otherwise provided in this division, allAll	50
pleadings, forms, journals, and other records filed or used in the	51
probate division shall be entitled "In the Court of Common Pleas,	52
Probate Division," but are not defective if entitled "In the	53
Probate Court." In Lorain county, on and after February 9, 2009,	54
all pleadings, forms, journals, and other records filed or used in	55
probate matters shall be entitled "In the Court of Common Pleas,	56
Domestic Relations Division," but are not defective if entitled	57
"In the Probate Division" or "In the Probate Court."	58

Sec. 2301.02.  The number of judges of the court of common	59
pleas for each county, the time for the next election of the	60
judges in the several counties, and the beginning of their terms	61
shall be as follows:	62

(A) In Adams, Ashland, Fayette, and Pike counties, one judge,	63
elected in 1956, term to begin February 9, 1957;	64

In Brown, Crawford, Defiance, Highland, Holmes, Morgan,	65
Ottawa, and Union counties, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term	66
to begin February 9, 1955;	67

In Auglaize county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	68
begin January 9, 1957;	69

In Coshocton, Darke, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin,	70
Jackson, Knox, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Paulding, Vinton, and	71
Wyandot counties, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to begin	72
January 1, 1957;	73

In Morrow county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	74
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2006, term to	75
begin January 1, 2007;	76

In Logan county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	77
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to	78
begin January 2, 2005;	79

In Carroll, Champaign, Clinton, Hocking, Meigs, Pickaway,	80
Preble, Shelby, Van Wert, and Williams counties, one judge, to be	81
elected in 1952, term to begin January 1, 1953;	82

In Harrison and Noble counties, one judge, to be elected in	83
1954, term to begin April 18, 1955;	84

In Henry county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	85
to begin May 9, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin	86
January 1, 2005;	87

In Putnam county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	88
begin May 9, 1957;	89

In Huron county, one judge, to be elected in 1952, term to	90
begin May 14, 1953;	91

In Perry county, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term to	92
begin July 6, 1956;	93

In Sandusky county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	94
term to begin February 10, 1955, and one to be elected in 1978,	95
term to begin January 1, 1979;	96

(B) In Allen county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	97
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1958,	98
term to begin January 1, 1959, and the third to be elected in	99
1992, term to begin January 1, 1993;	100

In Ashtabula county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	101
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1960, term to	102
begin January 1, 1961, and one to be elected in 1978, term to	103
begin January 2, 1979;	104

In Athens county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	105
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1990, term to	106
begin July 1, 1991;	107

In Erie county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	108
to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1970, term	109
to begin January 2, 1971, the third to be elected in 2004, term to	110
begin January 2, 2005, and the fourth to be elected in 2008, term	111
to begin February 9, 2009;	112

In Fairfield county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	113
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	114
term to begin January 1, 1971, and the third to be elected in	115
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	116

In Geauga county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	117
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	118
term to begin January 6, 1977;	119

In Greene county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	120
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	121
term to begin January 1, 1961, the third to be elected in 1978,	122
term to begin January 2, 1979, and the fourth to be elected in	123
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	124

In Hancock county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	125
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	126
1978, term to begin January 1, 1979;	127

In Lawrence county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	128
term to begin February 9, 1955, and the second to be elected in	129
1976, term to begin January 1, 1977;	130

In Marion county, three judges, one to be elected in 1952,	131
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1976,	132
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the third to be elected in	133
1998, term to begin February 9, 1999;	134

In Medina county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	135
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1966,	136
term to begin January 1, 1967, and the third to be elected in	137
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	138

In Miami county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	139
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1970, term to	140
begin on January 1, 1971;	141

In Muskingum county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968,	142
term to begin August 9, 1969, one to be elected in 1978, term to	143
begin January 1, 1979, and one to be elected in 2002, term to	144
begin January 2, 2003;	145

In Portage county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	146
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	147
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	148
1986, term to begin January 2, 1987;	149

In Ross county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	150
to begin February 9, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	151
term to begin January 1, 1977;	152

In Scioto county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	153
term to begin February 10, 1955, the second to be elected in 1960,	154
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	155
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	156

In Seneca county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	157
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1986,	158
term to begin January 2, 1987;	159

In Warren county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,	160
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	161
term to begin January 1, 1971, the third to be elected in 1986,	162
term to begin January 1, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in	163
2004, term to begin January 2, 2005;	164

In Washington county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	165
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 1986, term	166
to begin January 1, 1987;	167

In Wood county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968, term	168
beginning January 1, 1969, the second to be elected in 1970, term	169
to begin January 2, 1971, and the third to be elected in 1990,	170
term to begin January 1, 1991;	171

In Belmont and Jefferson counties, two judges, to be elected	172
in 1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	173
respectively;	174

In Clark county, four judges, one to be elected in 1952, term	175
to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1956, term	176
to begin January 2, 1957, the third to be elected in 1986, term to	177
begin January 3, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in 1994, term	178
to begin January 2, 1995.	179

In Clermont county, five judges, one to be elected in 1956,	180
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1964,	181
term to begin January 1, 1965, the third to be elected in 1982,	182
term to begin January 2, 1983, the fourth to be elected in 1986,	183
term to begin January 2, 1987; and the fifth to be elected in	184
2006, term to begin January 3, 2007;	185

In Columbiana county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	186
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	187
1956, term to begin January 1, 1957;	188

In Delaware county, two judges, one to be elected in 1990,	189
term to begin February 9, 1991, the second to be elected in 1994,	190
term to begin January 1, 1995;	191

In Lake county, six judges, one to be elected in 1958, term	192
to begin January 1, 1959, the second to be elected in 1960, term	193
to begin January 2, 1961, the third to be elected in 1964, term to	194
begin January 3, 1965, the fourth and fifth to be elected in 1978,	195
terms to begin January 4, 1979, and January 5, 1979, respectively,	196
and the sixth to be elected in 2000, term to begin January 6,	197
2001;	198

In Licking county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,	199
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1964, term to	200
begin January 1, 1965, one to be elected in 1990, term to begin	201
January 1, 1991, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin	202
January 1, 2005;	203

In Lorain county, ten judges, two to be elected in 1952,	204
terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953, respectively,	205
one to be elected in 1958, term to begin January 3, 1959, one to	206
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 1, 1969, two to be	207
elected in 1988, terms to begin January 4, 1989, and January 5,	208
1989, respectively, two to be elected in 1998, terms to begin	209
January 2, 1999, and January 3, 1999, respectively; one to be	210
elected in 2006, term to begin January 6, 2007; and one to be	211
elected in 2008, term to begin February 9, 2009, as described in	212
division (C)(1)(c) of section 2301.03 of the Revised Code;	213

In Butler county, eleven judges, one to be elected in 1956,	214
term to begin January 1, 1957; two to be elected in 1954, terms to	215
begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; one to	216
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 2, 1969; one to be	217
elected in 1986, term to begin January 3, 1987; two to be elected	218
in 1988, terms to begin January 1, 1989, and January 2, 1989,	219
respectively; one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 4,	220
1993; two to be elected in 2002, terms to begin January 2, 2003,	221
and January 3, 2003, respectively; and one to be elected in 2006,	222
term to begin January 3, 2007;	223

In Richland county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	224
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	225
term to begin February 9, 1961, the third to be elected in 1968,	226
term to begin January 2, 1969, and the fourth to be elected in	227
2004, term to begin January 3, 2005;	228

In Tuscarawas county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956,	229
term to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in	230
1960, term to begin January 2, 1961;	231

In Wayne county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	232
beginning January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 1968, term to	233
begin January 2, 1969;	234

In Trumbull county, six judges, one to be elected in 1952,	235
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1954,	236
term to begin January 1, 1955, the third to be elected in 1956,	237
term to begin January 1, 1957, the fourth to be elected in 1964,	238
term to begin January 1, 1965, the fifth to be elected in 1976,	239
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the sixth to be elected in	240
1994, term to begin January 3, 1995;	241

(C) In Cuyahoga county, thirty-nine judges; eight to be	242
elected in 1954, terms to begin on successive days beginning from	243
January 1, 1955, to January 7, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	244
respectively; eight to be elected in 1956, terms to begin on	245
successive days beginning from January 1, 1957, to January 8,	246
1957; three to be elected in 1952, terms to begin from January 1,	247
1953, to January 3, 1953; two to be elected in 1960, terms to	248
begin on January 8, 1961, and January 9, 1961, respectively; two	249
to be elected in 1964, terms to begin January 4, 1965, and January	250
5, 1965, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin on	251
January 10, 1967; four to be elected in 1968, terms to begin on	252
successive days beginning from January 9, 1969, to January 12,	253
1969; two to be elected in 1974, terms to begin on January 18,	254
1975, and January 19, 1975, respectively; five to be elected in	255
1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning January 6, 1977,	256
to January 10, 1977; two to be elected in 1982, terms to begin	257
January 11, 1983, and January 12, 1983, respectively; and two to	258
be elected in 1986, terms to begin January 13, 1987, and January	259
14, 1987, respectively;	260

In Franklin county, twenty-two judges; two to be elected in	261
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	262
respectively; four to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January	263
1, 1957, to January 4, 1957; four to be elected in 1958, terms to	264
begin January 1, 1959, to January 4, 1959; three to be elected in	265
1968, terms to begin January 5, 1969, to January 7, 1969; three to	266
be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning	267
January 5, 1977, to January 7, 1977; one to be elected in 1982,	268
term to begin January 8, 1983; one to be elected in 1986, term to	269
begin January 9, 1987; two to be elected in 1990, terms to begin	270
July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991, respectively; one to be elected in	271
1996, term to begin January 2, 1997; and one to be elected in	272
2004, term to begin July 1, 2005;	273

In Hamilton county, twenty-one judges; eight to be elected in	274
1966, terms to begin January 1, 1967, January 2, 1967, and from	275
February 9, 1967, to February 14, 1967, respectively; five to be	276
elected in 1956, terms to begin from January 1, 1957, to January	277
5, 1957; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 1, 1965;	278
one to be elected in 1974, term to begin January 15, 1975; one to	279
be elected in 1980, term to begin January 16, 1981; two to be	280
elected at large in the general election in 1982, terms to begin	281
April 1, 1983; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,	282
1991; and two to be elected in 1996, terms to begin January 3,	283
1997, and January 4, 1997, respectively;	284

In Lucas county, fourteen judges; two to be elected in 1954,	285
terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	286
respectively; two to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January 1,	287
1957, and October 29, 1957, respectively; two to be elected in	288
1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953,	289
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,	290
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 4, 1969;	291
two to be elected in 1976, terms to begin January 4, 1977, and	292
January 5, 1977, respectively; one to be elected in 1982, term to	293
begin January 6, 1983; one to be elected in 1988, term to begin	294
January 7, 1989; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin January	295
2, 1991; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 2,	296
1993;	297

In Mahoning county, seven judges; three to be elected in	298
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and	299
February 9, 1955, respectively; one to be elected in 1956, term to	300
begin January 1, 1957; one to be elected in 1952, term to begin	301
January 1, 1953; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January	302
2, 1969; and one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,	303
1991;	304

In Montgomery county, fifteen judges; three to be elected in	305
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and January	306
3, 1955, respectively; four to be elected in 1952, terms to begin	307
January 1, 1953, January 2, 1953, July 1, 1953, and July 2, 1953,	308
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,	309
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 3, 1969;	310
three to be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days	311
beginning January 4, 1977, to January 6, 1977; two to be elected	312
in 1990, terms to begin July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991,	313
respectively; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January	314
1, 1993.	315

In Stark county, eight judges; one to be elected in 1958,	316
term to begin on January 2, 1959; two to be elected in 1954, terms	317
to begin on January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively;	318
two to be elected in 1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and	319
April 16, 1953, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to	320
begin on January 4, 1967; and two to be elected in 1992, terms to	321
begin January 1, 1993, and January 2, 1993, respectively;	322

In Summit county, thirteen judges; four to be elected in	323
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, January 3,	324
1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; three to be elected in	325
1958, terms to begin January 1, 1959, January 2, 1959, and May 17,	326
1959, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin	327
January 4, 1967; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January	328
5, 1969; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin May 1, 1991; one	329
to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 6, 1993; and two to	330
be elected in 2008, terms to begin January 5, 2009, and January 6,	331
2009, respectively.	332

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, in any county	333
having two or more judges of the court of common pleas, in which	334
more than one-third of the judges plus one were previously elected	335
at the same election, if the office of one of those judges so	336
elected becomes vacant more than forty days prior to the second	337
general election preceding the expiration of that judge's term,	338
the office that that judge had filled shall be abolished as of the	339
date of the next general election, and a new office of judge of	340
the court of common pleas shall be created. The judge who is to	341
fill that new office shall be elected for a six-year term at the	342
next general election, and the term of that judge shall commence	343
on the first day of the year following that general election, on	344
which day no other judge's term begins, so that the number of	345
judges that the county shall elect shall not be reduced.	346

Judges of the probate division of the court of common pleas	347
are judges of the court of common pleas but shall be elected	348
pursuant to sections 2101.02 and 2101.021 of the Revised Code,	349
except in Adams, Harrison, Henry, Morgan, Noble, and Wyandot	350
counties in which the judge of the court of common pleas elected	351
pursuant to this section also shall serve as judge of the probate	352
division, except in Lorain county in which the judges of the	353
domestic relations division of the Lorain county court of common	354
pleas elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the	355
duties and functions of the judge of the probate division, and	356
except in Morrow county in which the judges of the court of common	357
pleas elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the	358
duties and functions of the judge of the probate division.	359

Sec. 2301.03.  (A) In Franklin county, the judges of the	360
court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953,	361
January 2, 1953, January 5, 1969, January 5, 1977, and January 2,	362
1997, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise	363
the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	364
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of	365
Franklin county and shall be elected and designated as judges of	366
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They	367
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all	368
cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all	369
parentage proceedings under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over	370
which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	371
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	372
shall be assigned to them. In addition to the judge's regular	373
duties, the judge who is senior in point of service shall serve on	374
the children services board and the county advisory board and	375
shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and	376
its subdivisions and departments.	377

(B) In Hamilton county:

378

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins	379
on January 1, 1957, and successors, and the judge of the court of	380
common pleas, whose term begins on February 14, 1967, and	381
successors, shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	382
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and	383
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters.	384

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	385
on January 5, 1957, January 16, 1981, and July 1, 1991, and	386
successors, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court	387
of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and shall have	388
assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	389
separation, and annulment cases coming before the court. On or	390
after the first day of July and before the first day of August of	391
1991 and each year thereafter, a majority of the judges of the	392
division of domestic relations shall elect one of the judges of	393
the division as administrative judge of that division. If a	394
majority of the judges of the division of domestic relations are	395
unable for any reason to elect an administrative judge for the	396
division before the first day of August, a majority of the judges	397
of the Hamilton county court of common pleas, as soon as possible	398
after that date, shall elect one of the judges of the division of	399
domestic relations as administrative judge of that division. The	400
term of the administrative judge shall begin on the earlier of the	401
first day of August of the year in which the administrative judge	402
is elected or the date on which the administrative judge is	403
elected by a majority of the judges of the Hamilton county court	404
of common pleas and shall terminate on the date on which the	405
administrative judge's successor is elected in the following year.	406

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the administrative	407
judge of the division of domestic relations shall be the	408
administrator of the domestic relations division and its	409
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	410
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	411
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	412
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	413
including any referees considered necessary by the judges in the	414
discharge of their various duties.	415

The administrative judge of the division of domestic	416
relations also shall designate the title, compensation, expense	417
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	418
personnel of the division, and shall fix the duties of its	419
personnel. The duties of the personnel, in addition to those	420
provided for in other sections of the Revised Code, shall include	421
the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution	422
of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling	423
and conciliation services that may be made available to persons	424
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	425
action pending in the division.	426

The board of county commissioners shall appropriate the sum	427
of money each year as will meet all the administrative expenses of	428
the division of domestic relations, including reasonable expenses	429
of the domestic relations judges and the division counselors and	430
other employees designated to conduct the handling, servicing, and	431
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	432
separation, and annulment cases, conciliation and counseling, and	433
all matters relating to those cases and counseling, and the	434
expenses involved in the attendance of division personnel at	435
domestic relations and welfare conferences designated by the	436
division, and the further sum each year as will provide for the	437
adequate operation of the division of domestic relations.	438

The compensation and expenses of all employees and the salary	439
and expenses of the judges shall be paid by the county treasurer	440
from the money appropriated for the operation of the division,	441
upon the warrant of the county auditor, certified to by the	442
administrative judge of the division of domestic relations.	443

The summonses, warrants, citations, subpoenas, and other	444
writs of the division may issue to a bailiff, constable, or staff	445
investigator of the division or to the sheriff of any county or	446
any marshal, constable, or police officer, and the provisions of	447
law relating to the subpoenaing of witnesses in other cases shall	448
apply insofar as they are applicable. When a summons, warrant,	449
citation, subpoena, or other writ is issued to an officer, other	450
than a bailiff, constable, or staff investigator of the division,	451
the expense of serving it shall be assessed as a part of the costs	452
in the case involved.	453

(3) The judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county	454
whose term begins on January 3, 1997, and the successor to that	455
judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall each be elected	456
and designated for one term only as the drug court judge of the	457
court of common pleas of Hamilton county. The successors to the	458
judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall be elected and	459
designated as judges of the general division of the court of	460
common pleas of Hamilton county and shall not have the authority	461
granted by division (B)(3) of this section. The drug court judge	462
may accept or reject any case referred to the drug court judge	463
under division (B)(3) of this section. After the drug court judge	464
accepts a referred case, the drug court judge has full authority	465
over the case, including the authority to conduct arraignment,	466
accept pleas, enter findings and dispositions, conduct trials,	467
order treatment, and if treatment is not successfully completed	468
pronounce and enter sentence.	469

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas	470
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal	471
court may refer to the drug court judge any case, and any	472
companion cases, the judge determines meet the criteria described	473
under divisions (B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section. If the drug	474
court judge accepts referral of a referred case, the case, and any	475
companion cases, shall be transferred to the drug court judge. A	476
judge may refer a case meeting the criteria described in divisions	477
(B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section that involves a violation of a	478
condition of a community control sanction to the drug court judge,	479
and, if the drug court judge accepts the referral, the referring	480
judge and the drug court judge have concurrent jurisdiction over	481
the case.	482

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas	483
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal	484
court may refer a case to the drug court judge under division	485
(B)(3) of this section if the judge determines that both of the	486
following apply:	487

(a) One of the following applies:

488

(i) The case involves a drug abuse offense, as defined in	489
section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third	490
or fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1,	491
1996, a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the	492
offense is committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor.	493

(ii) The case involves a theft offense, as defined in section	494
2913.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third or	495
fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1, 1996, a	496
felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the offense is	497
committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor, and the	498
defendant is drug or alcohol dependent or in danger of becoming	499
drug or alcohol dependent and would benefit from treatment.	500

(b) All of the following apply:

501

(i) The case involves an offense for which a community	502
control sanction may be imposed or is a case in which a mandatory	503
prison term or a mandatory jail term is not required to be	504
imposed.	505

(ii) The defendant has no history of violent behavior.

506

(iii) The defendant has no history of mental illness.

507

(iv) The defendant's current or past behavior, or both, is	508
drug or alcohol driven.	509

(v) The defendant demonstrates a sincere willingness to	510
participate in a fifteen-month treatment process.	511

(vi) The defendant has no acute health condition.

512

(vii) If the defendant is incarcerated, the county prosecutor	513
approves of the referral.	514

(4) If the administrative judge of the court of common pleas	515
of Hamilton county determines that the volume of cases pending	516
before the drug court judge does not constitute a sufficient	517
caseload for the drug court judge, the administrative judge, in	518
accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Courts of Common	519
Pleas, shall assign individual cases to the drug court judge from	520
the general docket of the court. If the assignments so occur, the	521
administrative judge shall cease the assignments when the	522
administrative judge determines that the volume of cases pending	523
before the drug court judge constitutes a sufficient caseload for	524
the drug court judge.	525

(5) As used in division (B) of this section, "community	526
control sanction," "mandatory prison term," and "mandatory jail	527
term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised	528
Code.	529

(C)(1) In Lorain county:

530

(a) The, the judges of the court of common pleas whose terms	531
begin on January 3, 1959, January 4, 1989, and January 2, 1999,	532
and February 9, 2009, and successors, shall have the same	533
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	534
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	535
common pleas of Lorain county and shall be elected and designated	536
as the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	537
relations. They shall have all of the powers relating to juvenile	538
courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	539
Revised Code, all parentage proceedings over which the juvenile	540
court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage,	541
legal separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them,	542
except cases that for some special reason are assigned to some	543
other judge of the court of common pleas.	544

(b) On and after January 1, 2006, the judges of the court of	545
common pleas, division of domestic relations, in addition to the	546
powers and jurisdiction set forth in division (C)(1)(a) of this	547
section, shall have jurisdiction over matters that are within the	548
jurisdiction of the probate court under Chapter 2101. and other	549
provisions of the Revised Code. From January 1, 2006, through	550
February 8, 2009, the judges of the court of common pleas,	551
division of domestic relations, shall exercise probate	552
jurisdiction concurrently with the probate judge.	553

(c) The judge of the court of common pleas, division of	554
domestic relations, whose term begins on February 9, 2009, is the	555
successor to the probate judge who was elected in 2002 for a term	556
that began on February 9, 2003.	557

(2)(a) From January 1, 2006, through February 8, 2009, with	558
respect to Lorain county, all references in law to the probate	559
court shall be construed as references to both the probate court	560
and the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and	561
all references in law to the probate judge shall be construed as	562
references to both the probate judge and the judges of the court	563
of common pleas, division of domestic relations. On and after	564
February 9, 2009, with respect to Lorain county, all references in	565
law to the probate court shall be construed as references to the	566
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and all	567
references to the probate judge shall be construed as references	568
to the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	569
relations.	570

(b) On and after February 9, 2009, with respect to Lorain	571
county, all references in law to the clerk of the probate court	572
shall be construed as references to the judge who is serving	573
pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts	574
of Ohio as the administrative judge of the court of common pleas,	575
division of domestic relations.	576

(D) In Lucas county:

577

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	578
on January 1, 1955, and January 3, 1965, and successors, shall	579
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	580
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	581
the court of common pleas of Lucas county and shall be elected and	582
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	583
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	584
separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them.	585

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	586
point of service, shall be considered as the presiding judge of	587
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and	588
shall be charged exclusively with the assignment and division of	589
the work of the division and the employment and supervision of all	590
other personnel of the domestic relations division.	591

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	592
on January 5, 1977, and January 2, 1991, and successors shall have	593
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	594
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	595
the court of common pleas of Lucas county, shall be elected and	596
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	597
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	598
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and	599
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. In addition to the	600
judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas,	601
juvenile division, senior in point of service, shall be the	602
administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and	603
departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment,	604
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in	605
handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including	606
any referees considered necessary by the judges of the division in	607
the discharge of their various duties.	608

The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division,	609
senior in point of service, also shall designate the title,	610
compensation, expense allowance, hours, leaves of absence, and	611
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties	612
of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	613
addition to other statutory duties include the handling,	614
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and	615
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	616
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	617
action pending in the division.	618

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas,	619
division of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the	620
juvenile division is sick, absent, or unable to perform that	621
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in that	622
judge's division necessitates it, the duties shall be performed by	623
the judges of the other of those divisions.	624

(E) In Mahoning county:

625

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began	626
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same	627
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	628
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	629
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated	630
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	631
relations, and shall be assigned all the divorce, dissolution of	632
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	633
court. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	634
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be	635
the administrator of the domestic relations division and its	636
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	637
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	638
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	639
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	640
including any referees considered necessary in the discharge of	641
the various duties of the judge's office.	642

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	643
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	644
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	645
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	646
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	647
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	648
legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling and	649
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	650
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	651
action pending in the division.	652

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began	653
on January 2, 1969, and successors, shall have the same	654
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	655
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	656
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated	657
as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and	658
shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and	659
2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions	660
conferred by those chapters. In addition to the judge's regular	661
duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division,	662
shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its	663
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	664
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	665
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile	666
cases, including any referees considered necessary by the judge in	667
the discharge of the judge's various duties.	668

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	669
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	670
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	671
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	672
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	673
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and	674
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	675
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	676
action pending in the division.	677

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	678
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	679
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties, or the volume of	680
cases pending in that judge's division necessitates it, that	681
judge's duties shall be performed by another judge of the court of	682
common pleas.	683

(F) In Montgomery county:

684

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	685
on January 2, 1953, and January 4, 1977, and successors, shall	686
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	687
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	688
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county and shall be	689
elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas,	690
division of domestic relations. These judges shall have assigned	691
to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation,	692
and annulment cases.	693

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	694
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the assignment	695
and division of the work of the division and shall have charge of	696
the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division	697
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	698
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	699
including any necessary referees, except those employees who may	700
be appointed by the judge, junior in point of service, under this	701
section and sections 2301.12, 2301.18, and 2301.19 of the Revised	702
Code. The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	703
point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation,	704
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	705
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties.	706

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	707
on January 1, 1953, and January 1, 1993, and successors, shall	708
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	709
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	710
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, shall be elected	711
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	712
division, and shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of,	713
the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	714
Revised Code.	715

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	716
court of common pleas, juvenile division, senior in point of	717
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	718
its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	719
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	720
juvenile division, including any necessary referees, who are	721
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases.	722
The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate the	723
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	724
and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	725
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	726
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	727
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and	728
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons,	729
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the	730
division.	731

If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, division	732
of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the court of common	733
pleas, juvenile division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform	734
that judge's duties or the volume of cases pending in that judge's	735
division necessitates it, the duties of that judge may be	736
performed by the judge or judges of the other of those divisions.	737

(G) In Richland county:

738

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	739
on January 1, 1957, and successors, shall have the same	740
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	741
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	742
common pleas of Richland county and shall be elected and	743
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	744
domestic relations. That judge shall be assigned and hear all	745
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	746
cases, all domestic violence cases arising under section 3113.31	747
of the Revised Code, and all post-decree proceedings arising from	748
any case pertaining to any of those matters. The division of	749
domestic relations has concurrent jurisdiction with the juvenile	750
division of the court of common pleas of Richland county to	751
determine the care, custody, or control of any child not a ward of	752
another court of this state, and to hear and determine a request	753
for an order for the support of any child if the request is not	754
ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage,	755
annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil action	756
involving an allegation of domestic violence, or an action for	757
support brought under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code. Except in	758
cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction of	759
the juvenile court, the judge of the division of domestic	760
relations shall be assigned and hear all cases pertaining to	761
paternity or parentage, the care, custody, or control of children,	762
parenting time or visitation, child support, or the allocation of	763
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children, all	764
proceedings arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all	765
proceedings arising under the uniform interstate family support	766
act contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, and all	767
post-decree proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of	768
those matters.	769

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	770
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be	771
the administrator of the domestic relations division and its	772
subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of the	773
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	774
domestic relations division, including any magistrates the judge	775
considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's duties. The	776
judge shall also designate the title, compensation, expense	777
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, vacation, and other	778
employment-related matters of the personnel of the division and	779
shall fix their duties.	780

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	781
on January 3, 2005, and successors, shall have the same	782
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	783
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	784
common pleas of Richland county, shall be elected and designated	785
as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and	786
shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile	787
judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code.	788
Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive original	789
jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile	790
division shall not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and	791
shall not be assigned, any case pertaining to paternity or	792
parentage, the care, custody, or control of children, parenting	793
time or visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental	794
rights and responsibilities for the care of children or any	795
post-decree proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of	796
those matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have	797
jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any	798
proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act	799
contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.	800

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	801
juvenile division shall be the administrator of the juvenile	802
division and its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall	803
have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	804
personnel of the juvenile division who are engaged in handling,	805
servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any	806
magistrates whom the judge considers necessary for the discharge	807
of the judge's various duties.	808

The judge of the juvenile division also shall designate the	809
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	810
and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	811
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	812
statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and	813
investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling,	814
conciliation, and mediation services that the court makes	815
available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an	816
action pending in the court, who request the services.	817

(H) In Stark county, the judges of the court of common pleas	818
whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, January 2, 1959, and January	819
1, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications,	820
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	821
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Stark	822
county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court	823
of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have	824
all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under	825
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage	826
proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and	827
all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and	828
annulment cases, except cases that are assigned to some other	829
judge of the court of common pleas for some special reason, shall	830
be assigned to the judges.	831

The judge of the division of domestic relations, second most	832
senior in point of service, shall have charge of the employment	833
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in	834
handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of	835
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, and necessary	836
referees required for the judge's respective court.	837

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	838
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the	839
administration of sections 2151.13, 2151.16, 2151.17, and 2152.71	840
of the Revised Code and with the assignment and division of the	841
work of the division and the employment and supervision of all	842
other personnel of the division, including, but not limited to,	843
that judge's necessary referees, but excepting those employees who	844
may be appointed by the judge second most senior in point of	845
service. The senior judge further shall serve in every other	846
position in which the statutes permit or require a juvenile judge	847
to serve.	848

(I) In Summit county:

849

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	850
on January 4, 1967, and January 6, 1993, and successors, shall	851
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	852
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	853
the court of common pleas of Summit county and shall be elected	854
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	855
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic	856
relations shall have assigned to them and hear all divorce,	857
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	858
that come before the court. Except in cases that are subject to	859
the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the	860
judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned	861
to them and hear all cases pertaining to paternity, custody,	862
visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights	863
and responsibilities for the care of children and all post-decree	864
proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of those	865
matters. The judges of the division of domestic relations shall	866
have assigned to them and hear all proceedings under the uniform	867
interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the	868
Revised Code.	869

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	870
point of service, shall be the administrator of the domestic	871
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and shall	872
have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	873
personnel of the division, including any necessary referees, who	874
are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	875
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases.	876
That judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense	877
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	878
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	879
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	880
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	881
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	882
of any counseling and conciliation services that are available	883
upon request to all persons, whether or not they are parties to an	884
action pending in the division.	885

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	886
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same	887
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	888
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	889
common pleas of Summit county, shall be elected and designated as	890
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall	891
be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile judge as	892
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code. Except	893
in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction	894
of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile division shall	895
not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be	896
assigned, any case pertaining to paternity, custody, visitation,	897
child support, or the allocation of parental rights and	898
responsibilities for the care of children or any post-decree	899
proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of those	900
matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have	901
jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any	902
proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act	903
contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.	904

The juvenile judge shall be the administrator of the juvenile	905
division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have	906
charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	907
personnel of the juvenile division, including any necessary	908
referees, who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating	909
juvenile cases. The judge also shall designate the title,	910
compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and	911
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	912
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	913
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	914
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and	915
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons,	916
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the	917
division.	918

(J) In Trumbull county, the judges of the court of common	919
pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1977,	920
and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the	921
same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	922
other judges of the court of common pleas of Trumbull county and	923
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common	924
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the	925
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters	926
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings	927
over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	928
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	929
shall be assigned to them, except cases that for some special	930
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	931
pleas.	932

(K) In Butler county:

933

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	934
on January 1, 1957, and January 4, 1993, and successors, shall	935
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	936
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	937
the court of common pleas of Butler county and shall be elected	938
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	939
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic	940
relations shall have assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of	941
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	942
court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned	943
to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge senior	944
in point of service shall be charged with the assignment and	945
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	946
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	947
division.	948

The judge senior in point of service also shall designate the	949
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	950
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	951
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	952
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	953
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	954
separation, and annulment cases and providing any counseling and	955
conciliation services that the division makes available to	956
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	957
pending in the division, who request the services.	958

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	959
on January 3, 1987, and January 2, 2003, and successors, shall	960
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	961
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	962
the court of common pleas of Butler county, shall be elected and	963
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	964
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	965
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and	966
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court	967
of common pleas, juvenile division, who is senior in point of	968
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	969
its subdivisions and departments. The judge, senior in point of	970
service, shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and	971
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are	972
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases,	973
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the	974
discharge of the judge's various duties.	975

The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate	976
the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of	977
absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall	978
fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to	979
other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and	980
investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling and	981
conciliation services that the division makes available to	982
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	983
pending in the division, who request the services.	984

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	985
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	986
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of	987
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties	988
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the	989
domestic relations and juvenile divisions.	990

(L)(1) In Cuyahoga county, the judges of the court of common	991
pleas whose terms begin on January 8, 1961, January 9, 1961,	992
January 18, 1975, January 19, 1975, and January 13, 1987, and	993
successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	994
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	995
other judges of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county and	996
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common	997
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the	998
powers relating to all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	999
separation, and annulment cases, except in cases that are assigned	1000
to some other judge of the court of common pleas for some special	1001
reason.	1002

(2) The administrative judge is administrator of the domestic	1003
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and has	1004
the following powers concerning division personnel:	1005

(a) Full charge of the employment, assignment, and	1006
supervision;	1007

(b) Sole determination of compensation, duties, expenses,	1008
allowances, hours, leaves, and vacations.	1009

(3) "Division personnel" include persons employed or referees	1010
engaged in hearing, servicing, investigating, counseling, or	1011
conciliating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation	1012
and annulment matters.	1013

(M) In Lake county:

1014

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1015
on January 2, 1961, and successors, shall have the same	1016
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1017
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	1018
common pleas of Lake county and shall be elected and designated as	1019
judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1020
relations. The judge shall be assigned all the divorce,	1021
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	1022
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special	1023
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	1024
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	1025
of the work of the division and with the employment and	1026
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1027
division.	1028

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1029
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1030
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1031
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1032
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1033
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1034
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1035
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1036
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1037
services.	1038

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1039
on January 4, 1979, and successors, shall have the same	1040
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1041
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1042
common pleas of Lake county, shall be elected and designated as	1043
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall	1044
be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	1045
the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by	1046
those chapters. The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile	1047
division, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	1048
its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of	1049
the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of	1050
the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or	1051
investigating juvenile cases, including any referees whom the	1052
judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various	1053
duties.	1054

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1055
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	1056
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1057
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include	1058
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and	1059
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1060
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1061
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1062
services.	1063

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1064
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	1065
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of	1066
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties	1067
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the	1068
domestic relations and juvenile divisions.	1069

(N) In Erie county:

1070

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1071
on January 2, 1971, and the successors to that judge whose terms	1072
begin before January 2, 2007, shall have the same qualifications,	1073
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	1074
compensation as the other judge of the court of common pleas of	1075
Erie county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the	1076
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge	1077
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and shall	1078
be assigned all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	1079
Revised Code, parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court	1080
has jurisdiction, and divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1081
separation, and annulment cases, except cases that for some	1082
special reason are assigned to some other judge.	1083

On or after January 2, 2007, the judge of the court of common	1084
pleas who is elected in 2006 shall be the successor to the judge	1085
of the domestic relations division whose term expires on January	1086
1, 2007, shall be designated as judge of the court of common	1087
pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judge as	1088
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the	1089
powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters.	1090

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas, general division,	1091
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, the judge of	1092
the court of common pleas, general division whose term begins on	1093
January 2, 2005, and successors, and the judge of the court of	1094
common pleas, general division, whose term begins February 9,	1095
2009, and successors, shall have assigned to them, in addition to	1096
all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the general	1097
division of the court of common pleas, all divorce, dissolution of	1098
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	1099
court, and all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the	1100
probate court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the	1101
Revised Code.	1102

(O) In Greene county:

1103

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1104
on January 1, 1961, and successors, shall have the same	1105
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1106
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	1107
common pleas of Greene county and shall be elected and designated	1108
as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1109
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1110
marriage, legal separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support	1111
enforcement, and domestic violence cases and all other cases	1112
related to domestic relations, except cases that for some special	1113
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	1114
pleas.	1115

The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	1116
of the work of the division and with the employment and	1117
supervision of all other personnel of the division. The judge also	1118
shall designate the title, compensation, hours, leaves of absence,	1119
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	1120
duties. The duties of the personnel of the division, in addition	1121
to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing,	1122
and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1123
separation, and annulment cases and the provision of counseling	1124
and conciliation services that the division considers necessary	1125
and makes available to persons who request the services, whether	1126
or not the persons are parties in an action pending in the	1127
division. The compensation for the personnel shall be paid from	1128
the overall court budget and shall be included in the	1129
appropriations for the existing judges of the general division of	1130
the court of common pleas.	1131

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1132
on January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the same	1133
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1134
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	1135
common pleas of Greene county, shall be elected and designated as	1136
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and, on or	1137
after January 1, 1995, shall be the juvenile judge as provided in	1138
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and	1139
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court	1140
of common pleas, juvenile division, shall be the administrator of	1141
the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The	1142
judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and	1143
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are	1144
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases,	1145
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the	1146
discharge of the judge's various duties.	1147

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1148
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	1149
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1150
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include	1151
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and	1152
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the court	1153
makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties	1154
to an action pending in the court, who request the services.	1155

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas,	1156
general division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that	1157
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the	1158
general division necessitates it, the duties of that judge of the	1159
general division shall be performed by the judge of the division	1160
of domestic relations and the judge of the juvenile division.	1161

(P) In Portage county, the judge of the court of common	1162
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall	1163
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1164
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1165
judges of the court of common pleas of Portage county and shall be	1166
elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1167
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1168
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1169
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some	1170
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	1171
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and	1172
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	1173
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1174
division.	1175

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1176
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1177
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1178
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1179
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1180
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1181
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1182
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1183
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1184
services.	1185

(Q) In Clermont county, the judge of the court of common	1186
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall	1187
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1188
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1189
judges of the court of common pleas of Clermont county and shall	1190
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1191
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1192
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1193
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some	1194
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	1195
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and	1196
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	1197
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1198
division.	1199

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1200
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1201
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1202
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1203
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1204
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1205
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1206
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1207
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1208
services.	1209

(R) In Warren county, the judge of the court of common pleas,	1210
whose term begins January 1, 1987, and successors, shall have the	1211
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1212
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court	1213
of common pleas of Warren county and shall be elected and	1214
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1215
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce,	1216
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	1217
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special	1218
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	1219
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	1220
of the work of the division and with the employment and	1221
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1222
division.	1223

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1224
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1225
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1226
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1227
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1228
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1229
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1230
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1231
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1232
services.	1233

(S) In Licking county, the judges of the court of common	1234
pleas, whose terms begin on January 1, 1991, and January 1, 2005,	1235
and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the	1236
same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	1237
the other judges of the court of common pleas of Licking county	1238
and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of	1239
common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judges shall be	1240
assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation,	1241
and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1242
Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the	1243
allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of	1244
children and the designation for the children of a place of	1245
residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and	1246
all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases	1247
and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are	1248
assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The	1249
administrative judge of the division of domestic relations shall	1250
be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the	1251
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel	1252
of the division.	1253

The administrative judge of the division of domestic	1254
relations shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1255
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1256
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1257
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1258
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1259
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1260
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1261
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1262
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1263
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1264
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1265
parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and	1266
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1267
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	1268
pending in the division, who request the services.	1269

(T) In Allen county, the judge of the court of common pleas,	1270
whose term begins January 1, 1993, and successors, shall have the	1271
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1272
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court	1273
of common pleas of Allen county and shall be elected and	1274
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1275
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce,	1276
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1277
all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all	1278
proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental	1279
rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the	1280
designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	1281
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	1282
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	1283
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	1284
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be	1285
charged with the assignment and division of the work of the	1286
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel	1287
of the division.	1288

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1289
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1290
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1291
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1292
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1293
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1294
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1295
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1296
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1297
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1298
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1299
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and	1300
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1301
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	1302
pending in the division, who request the services.	1303

(U) In Medina county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1304
whose term begins January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the	1305
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1306
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1307
common pleas of Medina county and shall be elected and designated	1308
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1309
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1310
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising	1311
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving	1312
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1313
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1314
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1315
parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings	1316
and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in	1317
cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge	1318
of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the	1319
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the	1320
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.	1321

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1322
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1323
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1324
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1325
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	1326
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	1327
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter	1328
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child	1329
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1330
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1331
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1332
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services	1333
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the	1334
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who	1335
request the services.	1336

(V) In Fairfield county, the judge of the court of common	1337
pleas whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall	1338
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1339
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1340
judges of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and shall	1341
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1342
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1343
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1344
cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code,	1345
all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of	1346
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and	1347
the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	1348
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	1349
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	1350
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	1351
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge also has	1352
concurrent jurisdiction with the probate-juvenile division of the	1353
court of common pleas of Fairfield county with respect to and may	1354
hear cases to determine the custody of a child, as defined in	1355
section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of	1356
another court of this state, cases that are commenced by a parent,	1357
guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section 2151.011	1358
of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a parent of the	1359
child to pay child support for that child when the request for	1360
that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution	1361
of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil	1362
action involving an allegation of domestic violence, an action for	1363
support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, or an action that	1364
is within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the	1365
probate-juvenile division of the court of common pleas of	1366
Fairfield county and that involves an allegation that the child is	1367
an abused, neglected, or dependent child, and post-decree	1368
proceedings and matters arising from those types of cases.	1369

The judge of the domestic relations division shall be charged	1370
with the assignment and division of the work of the division and	1371
with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the	1372
division.	1373

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1374
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1375
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1376
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1377
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1378
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1379
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1380
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1381
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1382
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1383
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1384
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and	1385
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1386
persons, regardless of whether the persons are parties to an	1387
action pending in the division, who request the services. When the	1388
judge hears a case to determine the custody of a child, as defined	1389
in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of	1390
another court of this state or a case that is commenced by a	1391
parent, guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section	1392
2151.011 of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a	1393
parent of the child to pay child support for that child when the	1394
request for that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce,	1395
dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a	1396
criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic	1397
violence, an action for support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised	1398
Code, or an action that is within the exclusive original	1399
jurisdiction of the probate-juvenile division of the court of	1400
common pleas of Fairfield county and that involves an allegation	1401
that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent child, the	1402
duties of the personnel of the domestic relations division also	1403
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of those types	1404
of cases.	1405

(W)(1) In Clark county, the judge of the court of common	1406
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 1995, and successors, shall	1407
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1408
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	1409
the court of common pleas of Clark county and shall be elected and	1410
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, domestic	1411
relations division. The judge shall have all the powers relating	1412
to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152.	1413
of the Revised Code and all parentage proceedings under Chapter	1414
3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has	1415
jurisdiction shall be assigned to the judge of the division of	1416
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1417
separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support enforcement, and	1418
other cases related to domestic relations shall be assigned to the	1419
domestic relations division, and the presiding judge of the court	1420
of common pleas shall assign the cases to the judge of the	1421
domestic relations division and the judges of the general	1422
division.	1423

(2) In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of	1424
the division of domestic relations shall serve on the children	1425
services board and the county advisory board.	1426

(3) If the judge of the court of common pleas of Clark	1427
county, division of domestic relations, is sick, absent, or unable	1428
to perform that judge's judicial duties or if the presiding judge	1429
of the court of common pleas of Clark county determines that the	1430
volume of cases pending in the division of domestic relations	1431
necessitates it, the duties of the judge of the division of	1432
domestic relations shall be performed by the judges of the general	1433
division or probate division of the court of common pleas of Clark	1434
county, as assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of	1435
that court, and the judges so assigned shall act in conjunction	1436
with the judge of the division of domestic relations of that	1437
court.	1438

(X) In Scioto county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1439
whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall have the	1440
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1441
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1442
common pleas of Scioto county and shall be elected and designated	1443
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1444
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1445
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising	1446
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving	1447
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1448
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1449
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1450
parenting time, visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and	1451
matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases	1452
that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the	1453
court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the	1454
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the	1455
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.	1456

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1457
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1458
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1459
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1460
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	1461
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	1462
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter	1463
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child	1464
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1465
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1466
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1467
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services	1468
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the	1469
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who	1470
request the services.	1471

(Y) In Auglaize county, the judge of the probate and juvenile	1472
divisions of the Auglaize county court of common pleas also shall	1473
be the administrative judge of the domestic relations division of	1474
the court and shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1475
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	1476
court. The judge shall have all powers as administrator of the	1477
domestic relations division and shall have charge of the personnel	1478
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	1479
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1480
including any referees considered necessary for the discharge of	1481
the judge's various duties.	1482

(Z)(1) In Marion county, the judge of the court of common	1483
pleas whose term begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to	1484
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	1485
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the	1486
other judges of the court of common pleas of Marion county and	1487
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common	1488
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as	1489
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the	1490
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to	1491
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	1492
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1493
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1494
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1495
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1496
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1497
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1498
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1499
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge	1500
and the successors to that judge. Except as provided in division	1501
(Z)(2) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of	1502
any section of the Revised Code, on and after February 9, 2003,	1503
the judge of the court of common pleas of Marion county whose term	1504
begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to that judge,	1505
shall have all the powers relating to the probate division of the	1506
court of common pleas of Marion county in addition to the powers	1507
previously specified in this division, and shall exercise	1508
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of	1509
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	1510
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other	1511
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of	1512
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court	1513
otherwise specified in division (Z)(1) of this section.	1514

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	1515
division of the court of common pleas of Marion county or the	1516
judge of the probate division of the court of common pleas of	1517
Marion county, whichever of those judges is senior in total length	1518
of service on the court of common pleas of Marion county,	1519
regardless of the division or divisions of service, shall serve as	1520
the clerk of the probate division of the court of common pleas of	1521
Marion county.	1522

(3) On and after February 9, 2003, all references in law to	1523
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	1524
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect	1525
to Marion county, as being references to both "the probate	1526
division" and "the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division"	1527
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate	1528
division" and "the judge of the domestic relations-	1529
juvenile-probate division." On and after February 9, 2003, all	1530
references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" shall be	1531
construed, with respect to Marion county, as being references to	1532
the judge who is serving pursuant to division (Z)(2) of this	1533
section as the clerk of the probate division of the court of	1534
common pleas of Marion county.	1535

(AA) In Muskingum county, the judge of the court of common	1536
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 2003, and successors, shall	1537
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1538
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1539
judges of the court of common pleas of Muskingum county and shall	1540
be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common	1541
pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned	1542
all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and	1543
annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1544
Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the	1545
allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of	1546
children and the designation for the children of a place of	1547
residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and	1548
all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases	1549
and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are	1550
assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge	1551
shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of	1552
the division and with the employment and supervision of the	1553
personnel of the division.	1554

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1555
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1556
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1557
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1558
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1559
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1560
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1561
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1562
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1563
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1564
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1565
parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and	1566
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1567
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	1568
pending in the division, who request the services.	1569

(BB) In Henry county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1570
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, shall have	1571
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1572
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judge	1573
of the court of common pleas of Henry county and shall be elected	1574
and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division	1575
of domestic relations. The judge shall have all of the powers	1576
relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapter 2151. or	1577
2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings arising under	1578
Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court	1579
has jurisdiction, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1580
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1581
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1582
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1583
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1584
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1585
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge,	1586
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to the	1587
other judge of the court of common pleas.	1588

(CC)(1) In Logan county, the judge of the court of common	1589
pleas whose term begins January 2, 2005, and the successors to	1590
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	1591
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the	1592
other judges of the court of common pleas of Logan county and	1593
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common	1594
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as	1595
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the	1596
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to	1597
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	1598
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1599
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1600
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1601
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1602
for the care of children and designation for the children of a	1603
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1604
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1605
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge	1606
and the successors to that judge. Notwithstanding any other	1607
provision of any section of the Revised Code, on and after January	1608
2, 2005, the judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county	1609
whose term begins on January 2, 2005, and the successors to that	1610
judge, shall have all the powers relating to the probate division	1611
of the court of common pleas of Logan county in addition to the	1612
powers previously specified in this division and shall exercise	1613
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of	1614
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	1615
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other	1616
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of	1617
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court	1618
otherwise specified in division (CC)(1) of this section.	1619

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	1620
division of the court of common pleas of Logan county or the	1621
probate judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county who is	1622
elected as the administrative judge of the probate division of the	1623
court of common pleas of Logan county pursuant to Rule 4 of the	1624
Rules of Superintendence shall be the clerk of the probate	1625
division and juvenile division of the court of common pleas of	1626
Logan county. The clerk of the court of common pleas who is	1627
elected pursuant to section 2303.01 of the Revised Code shall keep	1628
all of the journals, records, books, papers, and files pertaining	1629
to the domestic relations cases.	1630

(3) On and after January 2, 2005, all references in law to	1631
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	1632
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect	1633
to Logan county, as being references to both "the probate	1634
division" and the "domestic relations-juvenile-probate division"	1635
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate	1636
division" and the "judge of the domestic	1637
relations-juvenile-probate division." On and after January 2,	1638
2005, all references in law to "the clerk of the probate court"	1639
shall be construed, with respect to Logan county, as being	1640
references to the judge who is serving pursuant to division	1641
(CC)(2) of this section as the clerk of the probate division of	1642
the court of common pleas of Logan county.	1643

(DD) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1644
domestic relations, or juvenile judge, of any of the counties	1645
mentioned in this section is sick, absent, or unable to perform	1646
that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the	1647
judge's division necessitates it, the duties of that judge shall	1648
be performed by another judge of the court of common pleas of that	1649
county, assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of the	1650
court of common pleas of that county to act in place of or in	1651
conjunction with that judge, as the case may require.	1652

Section 2. That existing sections 2101.01, 2301.02, and	1653
2301.03 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.	1654

Section 3.  In Lorain County, all proceedings that are	1655
within the jurisdiction of the Probate Court under Chapter 2101.	1656
and other provisions of the Revised Code that are pending before a	1657
judge of the Domestic Relations Division of the Lorain County	1658
Court of Common Pleas on the effective date of this act shall be	1659
transferred to the Lorain County Probate Court. Parties to those	1660
proceedings may make any amendments to their pleadings that are	1661
required to conform them to the applicable rules of the Lorain	1662
County Probate Court. On the effective date of this act, the Clerk	1663
of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas shall transfer to the	1664
Lorain County Probate Court all pleadings, orders, entries,	1665
dockets, bonds, papers, records, books, exhibits, files, moneys,	1666
and property that are in the Clerk's possession and that pertain	1667
to those proceedings.	1668