S. B. No. 155 As Introduced

As Introduced

127th General Assembly

Regular Session

2007-2008

S. B. No. 155

Senator Faber

Cosponsors: Senators Schuler, Grendell, Spada

A BILL

To amend sections 2301.02 and 2301.03 of the Revised 1
Code to create a Domestic 2
Relations-Juvenile-Probate Division of the 3
Champaign County Court of Common Pleas, to 4
designate the Champaign County Probate and 5
Juvenile Judge as a judge of that division, and to 6
add a judge to that division to be elected in 7
2008. 8

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

       Section 1. That sections 2301.02 and 2301.03 of the Revised 9
Code be amended to read as follow: 10

       Sec. 2301.02. The number of judges of the court of common 11
pleas for each county, the time for the next election of the 12
judges in the several counties, and the beginning of their terms 13
shall be as follows: 14

       (A) In Adams, Ashland, Fayette, and Pike counties, one judge, 15
elected in 1956, term to begin February 9, 1957; 16

       In Brown, Crawford, Defiance, Highland, Holmes, Morgan, 17
Ottawa, and Union counties, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term 18
to begin February 9, 1955; 19

       In Auglaize county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to 20
begin January 9, 1957; 21

       In Coshocton, Darke, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin, 22
Jackson, Knox, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Paulding, Vinton, and 23
Wyandot counties, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to begin 24
January 1, 1957; 25

       In Morrow county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 26
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2006, term to 27
begin January 1, 2007; 28

       In Logan county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 29
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to 30
begin January 2, 2005; 31

       In Carroll, ~~Champaign,~~ Clinton, Hocking, Meigs, Pickaway, 32
Preble, Shelby, Van Wert, and Williams counties, one judge, to be 33
elected in 1952, term to begin January 1, 1953; 34

       In Champaign county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952, 35
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 2008, term 36
to begin January 1, 2009. 37

       In Harrison and Noble counties, one judge, to be elected in 38
1954, term to begin April 18, 1955; 39

       In Henry county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 40
to begin May 9, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin 41
January 1, 2005; 42

       In Putnam county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to 43
begin May 9, 1957; 44

       In Huron county, one judge, to be elected in 1952, term to 45
begin May 14, 1953; 46

       In Perry county, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term to 47
begin July 6, 1956; 48

       In Sandusky county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, 49
term to begin February 10, 1955, and one to be elected in 1978, 50
term to begin January 1, 1979; 51

       (B) In Allen county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956, 52
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1958, 53
term to begin January 1, 1959, and the third to be elected in 54
1992, term to begin January 1, 1993; 55

       In Ashtabula county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954, 56
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1960, term to 57
begin January 1, 1961, and one to be elected in 1978, term to 58
begin January 2, 1979; 59

       In Athens county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term 60
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1990, term to 61
begin July 1, 1991; 62

       In Erie county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 63
to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1970, term 64
to begin January 2, 1971, the third to be elected in 2004, term to 65
begin January 2, 2005, and the fourth to be elected in 2008, term 66
to begin February 9, 2009; 67

       In Fairfield county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954, 68
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970, 69
term to begin January 1, 1971, and the third to be elected in 70
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995; 71

       In Geauga county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 72
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976, 73
term to begin January 6, 1977; 74

       In Greene county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956, 75
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960, 76
term to begin January 1, 1961, the third to be elected in 1978, 77
term to begin January 2, 1979, and the fourth to be elected in 78
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995; 79

       In Hancock county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952, 80
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in 81
1978, term to begin January 1, 1979; 82

       In Lawrence county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, 83
term to begin February 9, 1955, and the second to be elected in 84
1976, term to begin January 1, 1977; 85

       In Marion county, three judges, one to be elected in 1952, 86
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1976, 87
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the third to be elected in 88
1998, term to begin February 9, 1999; 89

       In Medina county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956, 90
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1966, 91
term to begin January 1, 1967, and the third to be elected in 92
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995; 93

       In Miami county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term 94
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1970, term to 95
begin on January 1, 1971; 96

       In Muskingum county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968, 97
term to begin August 9, 1969, one to be elected in 1978, term to 98
begin January 1, 1979, and one to be elected in 2002, term to 99
begin January 2, 2003; 100

       In Portage county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956, 101
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960, 102
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in 103
1986, term to begin January 2, 1987; 104

       In Ross county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 105
to begin February 9, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976, 106
term to begin January 1, 1977; 107

       In Scioto county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954, 108
term to begin February 10, 1955, the second to be elected in 1960, 109
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in 110
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995; 111

       In Seneca county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 112
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1986, 113
term to begin January 2, 1987; 114

       In Warren county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954, 115
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970, 116
term to begin January 1, 1971, the third to be elected in 1986, 117
term to begin January 1, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in 118
2004, term to begin January 2, 2005; 119

       In Washington county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952, 120
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 1986, term 121
to begin January 1, 1987; 122

       In Wood county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968, term 123
beginning January 1, 1969, the second to be elected in 1970, term 124
to begin January 2, 1971, and the third to be elected in 1990, 125
term to begin January 1, 1991; 126

       In Belmont and Jefferson counties, two judges, to be elected 127
in 1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, 128
respectively; 129

       In Clark county, four judges, one to be elected in 1952, term 130
to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1956, term 131
to begin January 2, 1957, the third to be elected in 1986, term to 132
begin January 3, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in 1994, term 133
to begin January 2, 1995. 134

       In Clermont county, five judges, one to be elected in 1956, 135
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1964, 136
term to begin January 1, 1965, the third to be elected in 1982, 137
term to begin January 2, 1983, the fourth to be elected in 1986, 138
term to begin January 2, 1987; and the fifth to be elected in 139
2006, term to begin January 3, 2007; 140

       In Columbiana county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952, 141
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in 142
1956, term to begin January 1, 1957; 143

       In Delaware county, two judges, one to be elected in 1990, 144
term to begin February 9, 1991, the second to be elected in 1994, 145
term to begin January 1, 1995; 146

       In Lake county, six judges, one to be elected in 1958, term 147
to begin January 1, 1959, the second to be elected in 1960, term 148
to begin January 2, 1961, the third to be elected in 1964, term to 149
begin January 3, 1965, the fourth and fifth to be elected in 1978, 150
terms to begin January 4, 1979, and January 5, 1979, respectively, 151
and the sixth to be elected in 2000, term to begin January 6, 152
2001; 153

       In Licking county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954, 154
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1964, term to 155
begin January 1, 1965, one to be elected in 1990, term to begin 156
January 1, 1991, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin 157
January 1, 2005; 158

       In Lorain county, ten judges, two to be elected in 1952, 159
terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953, respectively, 160
one to be elected in 1958, term to begin January 3, 1959, one to 161
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 1, 1969, two to be 162
elected in 1988, terms to begin January 4, 1989, and January 5, 163
1989, respectively, two to be elected in 1998, terms to begin 164
January 2, 1999, and January 3, 1999, respectively; one to be 165
elected in 2006, term to begin January 6, 2007; and one to be 166
elected in 2008, term to begin February 9, 2009, as described in 167
division (C)(1)(c) of section 2301.03 of the Revised Code; 168

       In Butler county, eleven judges, one to be elected in 1956, 169
term to begin January 1, 1957; two to be elected in 1954, terms to 170
begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; one to 171
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 2, 1969; one to be 172
elected in 1986, term to begin January 3, 1987; two to be elected 173
in 1988, terms to begin January 1, 1989, and January 2, 1989, 174
respectively; one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 4, 175
1993; two to be elected in 2002, terms to begin January 2, 2003, 176
and January 3, 2003, respectively; and one to be elected in 2006, 177
term to begin January 3, 2007; 178

       In Richland county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956, 179
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960, 180
term to begin February 9, 1961, the third to be elected in 1968, 181
term to begin January 2, 1969, and the fourth to be elected in 182
2004, term to begin January 3, 2005; 183

       In Tuscarawas county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, 184
term to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 185
1960, term to begin January 2, 1961; 186

       In Wayne county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term 187
beginning January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 1968, term to 188
begin January 2, 1969; 189

       In Trumbull county, six judges, one to be elected in 1952, 190
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1954, 191
term to begin January 1, 1955, the third to be elected in 1956, 192
term to begin January 1, 1957, the fourth to be elected in 1964, 193
term to begin January 1, 1965, the fifth to be elected in 1976, 194
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the sixth to be elected in 195
1994, term to begin January 3, 1995; 196

       (C) In Cuyahoga county, thirty-nine judges; eight to be 197
elected in 1954, terms to begin on successive days beginning from 198
January 1, 1955, to January 7, 1955, and February 9, 1955, 199
respectively; eight to be elected in 1956, terms to begin on 200
successive days beginning from January 1, 1957, to January 8, 201
1957; three to be elected in 1952, terms to begin from January 1, 202
1953, to January 3, 1953; two to be elected in 1960, terms to 203
begin on January 8, 1961, and January 9, 1961, respectively; two 204
to be elected in 1964, terms to begin January 4, 1965, and January 205
5, 1965, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin on 206
January 10, 1967; four to be elected in 1968, terms to begin on 207
successive days beginning from January 9, 1969, to January 12, 208
1969; two to be elected in 1974, terms to begin on January 18, 209
1975, and January 19, 1975, respectively; five to be elected in 210
1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning January 6, 1977, 211
to January 10, 1977; two to be elected in 1982, terms to begin 212
January 11, 1983, and January 12, 1983, respectively; and two to 213
be elected in 1986, terms to begin January 13, 1987, and January 214
14, 1987, respectively; 215

       In Franklin county, twenty-two judges; two to be elected in 216
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, 217
respectively; four to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January 218
1, 1957, to January 4, 1957; four to be elected in 1958, terms to 219
begin January 1, 1959, to January 4, 1959; three to be elected in 220
1968, terms to begin January 5, 1969, to January 7, 1969; three to 221
be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning 222
January 5, 1977, to January 7, 1977; one to be elected in 1982, 223
term to begin January 8, 1983; one to be elected in 1986, term to 224
begin January 9, 1987; two to be elected in 1990, terms to begin 225
July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991, respectively; one to be elected in 226
1996, term to begin January 2, 1997; and one to be elected in 227
2004, term to begin July 1, 2005; 228

       In Hamilton county, twenty-one judges; eight to be elected in 229
1966, terms to begin January 1, 1967, January 2, 1967, and from 230
February 9, 1967, to February 14, 1967, respectively; five to be 231
elected in 1956, terms to begin from January 1, 1957, to January 232
5, 1957; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 1, 1965; 233
one to be elected in 1974, term to begin January 15, 1975; one to 234
be elected in 1980, term to begin January 16, 1981; two to be 235
elected at large in the general election in 1982, terms to begin 236
April 1, 1983; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1, 237
1991; and two to be elected in 1996, terms to begin January 3, 238
1997, and January 4, 1997, respectively; 239

       In Lucas county, fourteen judges; two to be elected in 1954, 240
terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, 241
respectively; two to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January 1, 242
1957, and October 29, 1957, respectively; two to be elected in 243
1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953, 244
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3, 245
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 4, 1969; 246
two to be elected in 1976, terms to begin January 4, 1977, and 247
January 5, 1977, respectively; one to be elected in 1982, term to 248
begin January 6, 1983; one to be elected in 1988, term to begin 249
January 7, 1989; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin January 250
2, 1991; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 2, 251
1993; 252

       In Mahoning county, seven judges; three to be elected in 253
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and 254
February 9, 1955, respectively; one to be elected in 1956, term to 255
begin January 1, 1957; one to be elected in 1952, term to begin 256
January 1, 1953; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 257
2, 1969; and one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1, 258
1991; 259

       In Montgomery county, fifteen judges; three to be elected in 260
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and January 261
3, 1955, respectively; four to be elected in 1952, terms to begin 262
January 1, 1953, January 2, 1953, July 1, 1953, and July 2, 1953, 263
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3, 264
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 3, 1969; 265
three to be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days 266
beginning January 4, 1977, to January 6, 1977; two to be elected 267
in 1990, terms to begin July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991, 268
respectively; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 269
1, 1993. 270

       In Stark county, eight judges; one to be elected in 1958, 271
term to begin on January 2, 1959; two to be elected in 1954, terms 272
to begin on January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; 273
two to be elected in 1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and 274
April 16, 1953, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to 275
begin on January 4, 1967; and two to be elected in 1992, terms to 276
begin January 1, 1993, and January 2, 1993, respectively; 277

       In Summit county, thirteen judges; four to be elected in 278
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, January 3, 279
1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; three to be elected in 280
1958, terms to begin January 1, 1959, January 2, 1959, and May 17, 281
1959, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin 282
January 4, 1967; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 283
5, 1969; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin May 1, 1991; one 284
to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 6, 1993; and two to 285
be elected in 2008, terms to begin January 5, 2009, and January 6, 286
2009, respectively. 287

       Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, in any county 288
having two or more judges of the court of common pleas, in which 289
more than one-third of the judges plus one were previously elected 290
at the same election, if the office of one of those judges so 291
elected becomes vacant more than forty days prior to the second 292
general election preceding the expiration of that judge's term, 293
the office that that judge had filled shall be abolished as of the 294
date of the next general election, and a new office of judge of 295
the court of common pleas shall be created. The judge who is to 296
fill that new office shall be elected for a six-year term at the 297
next general election, and the term of that judge shall commence 298
on the first day of the year following that general election, on 299
which day no other judge's term begins, so that the number of 300
judges that the county shall elect shall not be reduced. 301

       Judges of the probate division of the court of common pleas 302
are judges of the court of common pleas but shall be elected 303
pursuant to sections 2101.02 and 2101.021 of the Revised Code, 304
except in Adams, Harrison, Henry, Morgan, Noble, and Wyandot 305
counties in which the judge of the court of common pleas elected 306
pursuant to this section also shall serve as judge of the probate 307
division, except in Lorain county in which the judges of the 308
domestic relations division of the Lorain county court of common 309
pleas elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the 310
duties and functions of the judge of the probate division, and 311
except in Morrow county in which the judges of the court of common 312
pleas elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the 313
duties and functions of the judge of the probate division. 314

       Sec. 2301.03. (A) In Franklin county, the judges of the 315
court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, 316
January 2, 1953, January 5, 1969, January 5, 1977, and January 2, 317
1997, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise 318
the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same 319
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of 320
Franklin county and shall be elected and designated as judges of 321
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They 322
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all 323
cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all 324
parentage proceedings under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over 325
which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, 326
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases 327
shall be assigned to them. In addition to the judge's regular 328
duties, the judge who is senior in point of service shall serve on 329
the children services board and the county advisory board and 330
shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and 331
its subdivisions and departments. 332

       (B) In Hamilton county: 333

       (1) The judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins 334
on January 1, 1957, and successors, and the judge of the court of 335
common pleas, whose term begins on February 14, 1967, and 336
successors, shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters 337
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and 338
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters. 339

       (2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 340
on January 5, 1957, January 16, 1981, and July 1, 1991, and 341
successors, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court 342
of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and shall have 343
assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 344
separation, and annulment cases coming before the court. On or 345
after the first day of July and before the first day of August of 346
1991 and each year thereafter, a majority of the judges of the 347
division of domestic relations shall elect one of the judges of 348
the division as administrative judge of that division. If a 349
majority of the judges of the division of domestic relations are 350
unable for any reason to elect an administrative judge for the 351
division before the first day of August, a majority of the judges 352
of the Hamilton county court of common pleas, as soon as possible 353
after that date, shall elect one of the judges of the division of 354
domestic relations as administrative judge of that division. The 355
term of the administrative judge shall begin on the earlier of the 356
first day of August of the year in which the administrative judge 357
is elected or the date on which the administrative judge is 358
elected by a majority of the judges of the Hamilton county court 359
of common pleas and shall terminate on the date on which the 360
administrative judge's successor is elected in the following year. 361

       In addition to the judge's regular duties, the administrative 362
judge of the division of domestic relations shall be the 363
administrator of the domestic relations division and its 364
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the 365
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the 366
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, 367
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, 368
including any referees considered necessary by the judges in the 369
discharge of their various duties. 370

       The administrative judge of the division of domestic 371
relations also shall designate the title, compensation, expense 372
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 373
personnel of the division, and shall fix the duties of its 374
personnel. The duties of the personnel, in addition to those 375
provided for in other sections of the Revised Code, shall include 376
the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution 377
of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling 378
and conciliation services that may be made available to persons 379
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an 380
action pending in the division. 381

       The board of county commissioners shall appropriate the sum 382
of money each year as will meet all the administrative expenses of 383
the division of domestic relations, including reasonable expenses 384
of the domestic relations judges and the division counselors and 385
other employees designated to conduct the handling, servicing, and 386
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 387
separation, and annulment cases, conciliation and counseling, and 388
all matters relating to those cases and counseling, and the 389
expenses involved in the attendance of division personnel at 390
domestic relations and welfare conferences designated by the 391
division, and the further sum each year as will provide for the 392
adequate operation of the division of domestic relations. 393

       The compensation and expenses of all employees and the salary 394
and expenses of the judges shall be paid by the county treasurer 395
from the money appropriated for the operation of the division, 396
upon the warrant of the county auditor, certified to by the 397
administrative judge of the division of domestic relations. 398

       The summonses, warrants, citations, subpoenas, and other 399
writs of the division may issue to a bailiff, constable, or staff 400
investigator of the division or to the sheriff of any county or 401
any marshal, constable, or police officer, and the provisions of 402
law relating to the subpoenaing of witnesses in other cases shall 403
apply insofar as they are applicable. When a summons, warrant, 404
citation, subpoena, or other writ is issued to an officer, other 405
than a bailiff, constable, or staff investigator of the division, 406
the expense of serving it shall be assessed as a part of the costs 407
in the case involved. 408

       (3) The judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county 409
whose term begins on January 3, 1997, and the successor to that 410
judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall each be elected 411
and designated for one term only as the drug court judge of the 412
court of common pleas of Hamilton county. The successors to the 413
judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall be elected and 414
designated as judges of the general division of the court of 415
common pleas of Hamilton county and shall not have the authority 416
granted by division (B)(3) of this section. The drug court judge 417
may accept or reject any case referred to the drug court judge 418
under division (B)(3) of this section. After the drug court judge 419
accepts a referred case, the drug court judge has full authority 420
over the case, including the authority to conduct arraignment, 421
accept pleas, enter findings and dispositions, conduct trials, 422
order treatment, and if treatment is not successfully completed 423
pronounce and enter sentence. 424

       A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas 425
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal 426
court may refer to the drug court judge any case, and any 427
companion cases, the judge determines meet the criteria described 428
under divisions (B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section. If the drug 429
court judge accepts referral of a referred case, the case, and any 430
companion cases, shall be transferred to the drug court judge. A 431
judge may refer a case meeting the criteria described in divisions 432
(B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section that involves a violation of a 433
condition of a community control sanction to the drug court judge, 434
and, if the drug court judge accepts the referral, the referring 435
judge and the drug court judge have concurrent jurisdiction over 436
the case. 437

       A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas 438
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal 439
court may refer a case to the drug court judge under division 440
(B)(3) of this section if the judge determines that both of the 441
following apply: 442

       (a) One of the following applies: 443

       (i) The case involves a drug abuse offense, as defined in 444
section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third 445
or fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1, 446
1996, a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the 447
offense is committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor. 448

       (ii) The case involves a theft offense, as defined in section 449
2913.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third or 450
fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1, 1996, a 451
felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the offense is 452
committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor, and the 453
defendant is drug or alcohol dependent or in danger of becoming 454
drug or alcohol dependent and would benefit from treatment. 455

       (b) All of the following apply: 456

       (i) The case involves an offense for which a community 457
control sanction may be imposed or is a case in which a mandatory 458
prison term or a mandatory jail term is not required to be 459
imposed. 460

       (ii) The defendant has no history of violent behavior. 461

       (iii) The defendant has no history of mental illness. 462

       (iv) The defendant's current or past behavior, or both, is 463
drug or alcohol driven. 464

       (v) The defendant demonstrates a sincere willingness to 465
participate in a fifteen-month treatment process. 466

       (vi) The defendant has no acute health condition. 467

       (vii) If the defendant is incarcerated, the county prosecutor 468
approves of the referral. 469

       (4) If the administrative judge of the court of common pleas 470
of Hamilton county determines that the volume of cases pending 471
before the drug court judge does not constitute a sufficient 472
caseload for the drug court judge, the administrative judge, in 473
accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Courts of Common 474
Pleas, shall assign individual cases to the drug court judge from 475
the general docket of the court. If the assignments so occur, the 476
administrative judge shall cease the assignments when the 477
administrative judge determines that the volume of cases pending 478
before the drug court judge constitutes a sufficient caseload for 479
the drug court judge. 480

       (5) As used in division (B) of this section, "community 481
control sanction," "mandatory prison term," and "mandatory jail 482
term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised 483
Code. 484

       (C)(1) In Lorain county: 485

       (a) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 486
on January 3, 1959, January 4, 1989, January 2, 1999, and 487
February 9, 2009, and successors, shall have the same 488
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 489
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of 490
common pleas of Lorain county and shall be elected and designated 491
as the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic 492
relations. They shall have all of the powers relating to juvenile 493
courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the 494
Revised Code, all parentage proceedings over which the juvenile 495
court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage, 496
legal separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them, 497
except cases that for some special reason are assigned to some 498
other judge of the court of common pleas. 499

       (b) On and after January 1, 2006, the judges of the court of 500
common pleas, division of domestic relations, in addition to the 501
powers and jurisdiction set forth in division (C)(1)(a) of this 502
section, shall have jurisdiction over matters that are within the 503
jurisdiction of the probate court under Chapter 2101. and other 504
provisions of the Revised Code. From January 1, 2006, through 505
February 8, 2009, the judges of the court of common pleas, 506
division of domestic relations, shall exercise probate 507
jurisdiction concurrently with the probate judge. 508

        (c) The judge of the court of common pleas, division of 509
domestic relations, whose term begins on February 9, 2009, is the 510
successor to the probate judge who was elected in 2002 for a term 511
that began on February 9, 2003. 512

        (2)(a) From January 1, 2006, through February 8, 2009, with 513
respect to Lorain county, all references in law to the probate 514
court shall be construed as references to both the probate court 515
and the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and 516
all references in law to the probate judge shall be construed as 517
references to both the probate judge and the judges of the court 518
of common pleas, division of domestic relations. On and after 519
February 9, 2009, with respect to Lorain county, all references in 520
law to the probate court shall be construed as references to the 521
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and all 522
references to the probate judge shall be construed as references 523
to the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic 524
relations. 525

        (b) On and after February 9, 2009, with respect to Lorain 526
county, all references in law to the clerk of the probate court 527
shall be construed as references to the judge who is serving 528
pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts 529
of Ohio as the administrative judge of the court of common pleas, 530
division of domestic relations. 531

       (D) In Lucas county: 532

       (1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 533
on January 1, 1955, and January 3, 1965, and successors, shall 534
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 535
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of 536
the court of common pleas of Lucas county and shall be elected and 537
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of 538
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 539
separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them. 540

       The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in 541
point of service, shall be considered as the presiding judge of 542
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and 543
shall be charged exclusively with the assignment and division of 544
the work of the division and the employment and supervision of all 545
other personnel of the domestic relations division. 546

       (2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 547
on January 5, 1977, and January 2, 1991, and successors shall have 548
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 549
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of 550
the court of common pleas of Lucas county, shall be elected and 551
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile 552
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters 553
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and 554
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. In addition to the 555
judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, 556
juvenile division, senior in point of service, shall be the 557
administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and 558
departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment, 559
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in 560
handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including 561
any referees considered necessary by the judges of the division in 562
the discharge of their various duties. 563

       The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, 564
senior in point of service, also shall designate the title, 565
compensation, expense allowance, hours, leaves of absence, and 566
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties 567
of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in 568
addition to other statutory duties include the handling, 569
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and 570
conciliation services that may be made available to persons 571
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an 572
action pending in the division. 573

       (3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, 574
division of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the 575
juvenile division is sick, absent, or unable to perform that 576
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in that 577
judge's division necessitates it, the duties shall be performed by 578
the judges of the other of those divisions. 579

       (E) In Mahoning county: 580

       (1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began 581
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same 582
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 583
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of 584
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated 585
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic 586
relations, and shall be assigned all the divorce, dissolution of 587
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the 588
court. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the 589
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be 590
the administrator of the domestic relations division and its 591
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the 592
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the 593
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, 594
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, 595
including any referees considered necessary in the discharge of 596
the various duties of the judge's office. 597

       The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, 598
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 599
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the 600
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in 601
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, 602
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, 603
legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling and 604
conciliation services that may be made available to persons 605
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an 606
action pending in the division. 607

       (2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began 608
on January 2, 1969, and successors, shall have the same 609
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 610
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of 611
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated 612
as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and 613
shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 614
2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions 615
conferred by those chapters. In addition to the judge's regular 616
duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, 617
shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its 618
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the 619
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the 620
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile 621
cases, including any referees considered necessary by the judge in 622
the discharge of the judge's various duties. 623

       The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, 624
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the 625
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the 626
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in 627
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, 628
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and 629
conciliation services that may be made available to persons 630
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an 631
action pending in the division. 632

       (3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of 633
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or 634
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties, or the volume of 635
cases pending in that judge's division necessitates it, that 636
judge's duties shall be performed by another judge of the court of 637
common pleas. 638

       (F) In Montgomery county: 639

       (1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 640
on January 2, 1953, and January 4, 1977, and successors, shall 641
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 642
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of 643
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county and shall be 644
elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, 645
division of domestic relations. These judges shall have assigned 646
to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, 647
and annulment cases. 648

       The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in 649
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the assignment 650
and division of the work of the division and shall have charge of 651
the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division 652
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, 653
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, 654
including any necessary referees, except those employees who may 655
be appointed by the judge, junior in point of service, under this 656
section and sections 2301.12, 2301.18, and 2301.19 of the Revised 657
Code. The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in 658
point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation, 659
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the 660
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. 661

       (2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 662
on January 1, 1953, and January 1, 1993, and successors, shall 663
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 664
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of 665
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, shall be elected 666
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile 667
division, and shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, 668
the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the 669
Revised Code. 670

       In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the 671
court of common pleas, juvenile division, senior in point of 672
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and 673
its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the 674
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the 675
juvenile division, including any necessary referees, who are 676
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases. 677
The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate the 678
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, 679
and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their 680
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other 681
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and 682
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and 683
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons, 684
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the 685
division. 686

       If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, division 687
of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the court of common 688
pleas, juvenile division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform 689
that judge's duties or the volume of cases pending in that judge's 690
division necessitates it, the duties of that judge may be 691
performed by the judge or judges of the other of those divisions. 692

       (G) In Richland county: 693

       (1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins 694
on January 1, 1957, and successors, shall have the same 695
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 696
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of 697
common pleas of Richland county and shall be elected and 698
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of 699
domestic relations. That judge shall be assigned and hear all 700
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment 701
cases, all domestic violence cases arising under section 3113.31 702
of the Revised Code, and all post-decree proceedings arising from 703
any case pertaining to any of those matters. The division of 704
domestic relations has concurrent jurisdiction with the juvenile 705
division of the court of common pleas of Richland county to 706
determine the care, custody, or control of any child not a ward of 707
another court of this state, and to hear and determine a request 708
for an order for the support of any child if the request is not 709
ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage, 710
annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil action 711
involving an allegation of domestic violence, or an action for 712
support brought under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code. Except in 713
cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction of 714
the juvenile court, the judge of the division of domestic 715
relations shall be assigned and hear all cases pertaining to 716
paternity or parentage, the care, custody, or control of children, 717
parenting time or visitation, child support, or the allocation of 718
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children, all 719
proceedings arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all 720
proceedings arising under the uniform interstate family support 721
act contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, and all 722
post-decree proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of 723
those matters. 724

       In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the 725
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be 726
the administrator of the domestic relations division and its 727
subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of the 728
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the 729
domestic relations division, including any magistrates the judge 730
considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's duties. The 731
judge shall also designate the title, compensation, expense 732
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, vacation, and other 733
employment-related matters of the personnel of the division and 734
shall fix their duties. 735

        (2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins 736
on January 3, 2005, and successors, shall have the same 737
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 738
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of 739
common pleas of Richland county, shall be elected and designated 740
as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and 741
shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile 742
judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code. 743
Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive original 744
jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile 745
division shall not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and 746
shall not be assigned, any case pertaining to paternity or 747
parentage, the care, custody, or control of children, parenting 748
time or visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental 749
rights and responsibilities for the care of children or any 750
post-decree proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of 751
those matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have 752
jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any 753
proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act 754
contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code. 755

       In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the 756
juvenile division shall be the administrator of the juvenile 757
division and its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall 758
have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the 759
personnel of the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, 760
servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any 761
magistrates whom the judge considers necessary for the discharge 762
of the judge's various duties. 763

       The judge of the juvenile division also shall designate the 764
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, 765
and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their 766
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other 767
statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and 768
investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling, 769
conciliation, and mediation services that the court makes 770
available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an 771
action pending in the court, who request the services. 772

       (H) In Stark county, the judges of the court of common pleas 773
whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, January 2, 1959, and January 774
1, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, 775
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same 776
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Stark 777
county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court 778
of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have 779
all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under 780
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage 781
proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and 782
all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and 783
annulment cases, except cases that are assigned to some other 784
judge of the court of common pleas for some special reason, shall 785
be assigned to the judges. 786

       The judge of the division of domestic relations, second most 787
senior in point of service, shall have charge of the employment 788
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in 789
handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of 790
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, and necessary 791
referees required for the judge's respective court. 792

       The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in 793
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the 794
administration of sections 2151.13, 2151.16, 2151.17, and 2152.71 795
of the Revised Code and with the assignment and division of the 796
work of the division and the employment and supervision of all 797
other personnel of the division, including, but not limited to, 798
that judge's necessary referees, but excepting those employees who 799
may be appointed by the judge second most senior in point of 800
service. The senior judge further shall serve in every other 801
position in which the statutes permit or require a juvenile judge 802
to serve. 803

       (I) In Summit county: 804

       (1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 805
on January 4, 1967, and January 6, 1993, and successors, shall 806
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 807
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of 808
the court of common pleas of Summit county and shall be elected 809
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of 810
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic 811
relations shall have assigned to them and hear all divorce, 812
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases 813
that come before the court. Except in cases that are subject to 814
the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the 815
judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned 816
to them and hear all cases pertaining to paternity, custody, 817
visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights 818
and responsibilities for the care of children and all post-decree 819
proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of those 820
matters. The judges of the division of domestic relations shall 821
have assigned to them and hear all proceedings under the uniform 822
interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the 823
Revised Code. 824

       The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in 825
point of service, shall be the administrator of the domestic 826
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and shall 827
have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the 828
personnel of the division, including any necessary referees, who 829
are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, 830
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases. 831
That judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense 832
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 833
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties 834
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall 835
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, 836
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and 837
of any counseling and conciliation services that are available 838
upon request to all persons, whether or not they are parties to an 839
action pending in the division. 840

       (2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins 841
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same 842
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 843
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of 844
common pleas of Summit county, shall be elected and designated as 845
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall 846
be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile judge as 847
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code. Except 848
in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction 849
of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile division shall 850
not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be 851
assigned, any case pertaining to paternity, custody, visitation, 852
child support, or the allocation of parental rights and 853
responsibilities for the care of children or any post-decree 854
proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of those 855
matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have 856
jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any 857
proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act 858
contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code. 859

       The juvenile judge shall be the administrator of the juvenile 860
division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have 861
charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the 862
personnel of the juvenile division, including any necessary 863
referees, who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating 864
juvenile cases. The judge also shall designate the title, 865
compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and 866
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their 867
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other 868
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and 869
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and 870
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons, 871
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the 872
division. 873

       (J) In Trumbull county, the judges of the court of common 874
pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1977, 875
and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the 876
same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as 877
other judges of the court of common pleas of Trumbull county and 878
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common 879
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the 880
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 881
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings 882
over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, 883
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases 884
shall be assigned to them, except cases that for some special 885
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common 886
pleas. 887

       (K) In Butler county: 888

       (1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 889
on January 1, 1957, and January 4, 1993, and successors, shall 890
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 891
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of 892
the court of common pleas of Butler county and shall be elected 893
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of 894
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic 895
relations shall have assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of 896
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the 897
court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned 898
to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge senior 899
in point of service shall be charged with the assignment and 900
division of the work of the division and with the employment and 901
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations 902
division. 903

       The judge senior in point of service also shall designate the 904
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, 905
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their 906
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other 907
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and 908
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 909
separation, and annulment cases and providing any counseling and 910
conciliation services that the division makes available to 911
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action 912
pending in the division, who request the services. 913

       (2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin 914
on January 3, 1987, and January 2, 2003, and successors, shall 915
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 916
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of 917
the court of common pleas of Butler county, shall be elected and 918
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile 919
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters 920
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and 921
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court 922
of common pleas, juvenile division, who is senior in point of 923
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and 924
its subdivisions and departments. The judge, senior in point of 925
service, shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and 926
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are 927
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, 928
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the 929
discharge of the judge's various duties. 930

       The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate 931
the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of 932
absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall 933
fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to 934
other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and 935
investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling and 936
conciliation services that the division makes available to 937
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action 938
pending in the division, who request the services. 939

       (3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of 940
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or 941
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of 942
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties 943
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the 944
domestic relations and juvenile divisions. 945

       (L)(1) In Cuyahoga county, the judges of the court of common 946
pleas whose terms begin on January 8, 1961, January 9, 1961, 947
January 18, 1975, January 19, 1975, and January 13, 1987, and 948
successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same 949
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as 950
other judges of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county and 951
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common 952
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the 953
powers relating to all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 954
separation, and annulment cases, except in cases that are assigned 955
to some other judge of the court of common pleas for some special 956
reason. 957

       (2) The administrative judge is administrator of the domestic 958
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and has 959
the following powers concerning division personnel: 960

       (a) Full charge of the employment, assignment, and 961
supervision; 962

       (b) Sole determination of compensation, duties, expenses, 963
allowances, hours, leaves, and vacations. 964

       (3) "Division personnel" include persons employed or referees 965
engaged in hearing, servicing, investigating, counseling, or 966
conciliating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation 967
and annulment matters. 968

       (M) In Lake county: 969

       (1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins 970
on January 2, 1961, and successors, shall have the same 971
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 972
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of 973
common pleas of Lake county and shall be elected and designated as 974
judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic 975
relations. The judge shall be assigned all the divorce, 976
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases 977
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special 978
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common 979
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division 980
of the work of the division and with the employment and 981
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations 982
division. 983

       The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, 984
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 985
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties 986
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall 987
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, 988
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and 989
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the 990
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons 991
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the 992
services. 993

       (2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins 994
on January 4, 1979, and successors, shall have the same 995
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 996
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of 997
common pleas of Lake county, shall be elected and designated as 998
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall 999
be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of 1000
the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by 1001
those chapters. The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile 1002
division, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and 1003
its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of 1004
the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of 1005
the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or 1006
investigating juvenile cases, including any referees whom the 1007
judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various 1008
duties. 1009

       The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, 1010
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the 1011
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties 1012
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include 1013
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and 1014
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the 1015
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons 1016
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the 1017
services. 1018

       (3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of 1019
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or 1020
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of 1021
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties 1022
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the 1023
domestic relations and juvenile divisions. 1024

       (N) In Erie county: 1025

       (1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins 1026
on January 2, 1971, and the successors to that judge whose terms 1027
begin before January 2, 2007, shall have the same qualifications, 1028
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same 1029
compensation as the other judge of the court of common pleas of 1030
Erie county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the 1031
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge 1032
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and shall 1033
be assigned all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the 1034
Revised Code, parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court 1035
has jurisdiction, and divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 1036
separation, and annulment cases, except cases that for some 1037
special reason are assigned to some other judge. 1038

        On or after January 2, 2007, the judge of the court of common 1039
pleas who is elected in 2006 shall be the successor to the judge 1040
of the domestic relations division whose term expires on January 1041
1, 2007, shall be designated as judge of the court of common 1042
pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judge as 1043
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the 1044
powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. 1045

        (2) The judge of the court of common pleas, general division, 1046
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, the judge of 1047
the court of common pleas, general division whose term begins on 1048
January 2, 2005, and successors, and the judge of the court of 1049
common pleas, general division, whose term begins February 9, 1050
2009, and successors, shall have assigned to them, in addition to 1051
all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the general 1052
division of the court of common pleas, all divorce, dissolution of 1053
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the 1054
court, and all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the 1055
probate court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the 1056
Revised Code. 1057

       (O) In Greene county: 1058

       (1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins 1059
on January 1, 1961, and successors, shall have the same 1060
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 1061
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of 1062
common pleas of Greene county and shall be elected and designated 1063
as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic 1064
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of 1065
marriage, legal separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support 1066
enforcement, and domestic violence cases and all other cases 1067
related to domestic relations, except cases that for some special 1068
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common 1069
pleas. 1070

       The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division 1071
of the work of the division and with the employment and 1072
supervision of all other personnel of the division. The judge also 1073
shall designate the title, compensation, hours, leaves of absence, 1074
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their 1075
duties. The duties of the personnel of the division, in addition 1076
to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, 1077
and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 1078
separation, and annulment cases and the provision of counseling 1079
and conciliation services that the division considers necessary 1080
and makes available to persons who request the services, whether 1081
or not the persons are parties in an action pending in the 1082
division. The compensation for the personnel shall be paid from 1083
the overall court budget and shall be included in the 1084
appropriations for the existing judges of the general division of 1085
the court of common pleas. 1086

       (2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins 1087
on January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the same 1088
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and 1089
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of 1090
common pleas of Greene county, shall be elected and designated as 1091
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and, on or 1092
after January 1, 1995, shall be the juvenile judge as provided in 1093
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and 1094
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court 1095
of common pleas, juvenile division, shall be the administrator of 1096
the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The 1097
judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and 1098
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are 1099
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, 1100
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the 1101
discharge of the judge's various duties. 1102

       The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, 1103
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the 1104
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties 1105
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include 1106
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and 1107
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the court 1108
makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties 1109
to an action pending in the court, who request the services. 1110

       (3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, 1111
general division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that 1112
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the 1113
general division necessitates it, the duties of that judge of the 1114
general division shall be performed by the judge of the division 1115
of domestic relations and the judge of the juvenile division. 1116

       (P) In Portage county, the judge of the court of common 1117
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall 1118
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 1119
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other 1120
judges of the court of common pleas of Portage county and shall be 1121
elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, 1122
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all 1123
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment 1124
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some 1125
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of 1126
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and 1127
division of the work of the division and with the employment and 1128
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations 1129
division. 1130

       The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, 1131
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1132
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties 1133
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall 1134
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, 1135
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and 1136
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the 1137
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons 1138
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the 1139
services. 1140

       (Q) In Clermont county, the judge of the court of common 1141
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall 1142
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 1143
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other 1144
judges of the court of common pleas of Clermont county and shall 1145
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, 1146
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all 1147
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment 1148
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some 1149
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of 1150
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and 1151
division of the work of the division and with the employment and 1152
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations 1153
division. 1154

       The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, 1155
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1156
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties 1157
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall 1158
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, 1159
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and 1160
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the 1161
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons 1162
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the 1163
services. 1164

       (R) In Warren county, the judge of the court of common pleas, 1165
whose term begins January 1, 1987, and successors, shall have the 1166
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, 1167
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court 1168
of common pleas of Warren county and shall be elected and 1169
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of 1170
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, 1171
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases 1172
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special 1173
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common 1174
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division 1175
of the work of the division and with the employment and 1176
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations 1177
division. 1178

       The judge also shall designate the title, compensation, 1179
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1180
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties 1181
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall 1182
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, 1183
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and 1184
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the 1185
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons 1186
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the 1187
services. 1188

       (S) In Licking county, the judges of the court of common 1189
pleas, whose terms begin on January 1, 1991, and January 1, 2005, 1190
and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the 1191
same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as 1192
the other judges of the court of common pleas of Licking county 1193
and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of 1194
common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judges shall be 1195
assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, 1196
and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the 1197
Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the 1198
allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of 1199
children and the designation for the children of a place of 1200
residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and 1201
all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases 1202
and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are 1203
assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The 1204
administrative judge of the division of domestic relations shall 1205
be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the 1206
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel 1207
of the division. 1208

       The administrative judge of the division of domestic 1209
relations shall designate the title, compensation, expense 1210
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1211
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the 1212
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the 1213
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the 1214
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of 1215
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising 1216
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving 1217
child support, the allocation of parental rights and 1218
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for 1219
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, 1220
parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and 1221
conciliation services that the division makes available to 1222
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action 1223
pending in the division, who request the services. 1224

       (T) In Allen county, the judge of the court of common pleas, 1225
whose term begins January 1, 1993, and successors, shall have the 1226
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, 1227
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court 1228
of common pleas of Allen county and shall be elected and 1229
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of 1230
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, 1231
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, 1232
all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all 1233
proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental 1234
rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the 1235
designation for the children of a place of residence and legal 1236
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree 1237
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, 1238
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to 1239
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be 1240
charged with the assignment and division of the work of the 1241
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel 1242
of the division. 1243

       The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense 1244
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1245
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the 1246
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the 1247
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the 1248
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of 1249
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising 1250
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving 1251
child support, the allocation of parental rights and 1252
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for 1253
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, 1254
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and 1255
conciliation services that the division makes available to 1256
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action 1257
pending in the division, who request the services. 1258

       (U) In Medina county, the judge of the court of common pleas 1259
whose term begins January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the 1260
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, 1261
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of 1262
common pleas of Medina county and shall be elected and designated 1263
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic 1264
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of 1265
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising 1266
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving 1267
child support, the allocation of parental rights and 1268
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for 1269
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, 1270
parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings 1271
and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in 1272
cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge 1273
of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the 1274
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the 1275
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division. 1276

       The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense 1277
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1278
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the 1279
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in 1280
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, 1281
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, 1282
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter 1283
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child 1284
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities 1285
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a 1286
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and 1287
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services 1288
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the 1289
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who 1290
request the services. 1291

       (V) In Fairfield county, the judge of the court of common 1292
pleas whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall 1293
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 1294
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other 1295
judges of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and shall 1296
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas, 1297
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all 1298
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment 1299
cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, 1300
all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of 1301
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and 1302
the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal 1303
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree 1304
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, 1305
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to 1306
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge also has 1307
concurrent jurisdiction with the probate-juvenile division of the 1308
court of common pleas of Fairfield county with respect to and may 1309
hear cases to determine the custody of a child, as defined in 1310
section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of 1311
another court of this state, cases that are commenced by a parent, 1312
guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section 2151.011 1313
of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a parent of the 1314
child to pay child support for that child when the request for 1315
that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution 1316
of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil 1317
action involving an allegation of domestic violence, an action for 1318
support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, or an action that 1319
is within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the 1320
probate-juvenile division of the court of common pleas of 1321
Fairfield county and that involves an allegation that the child is 1322
an abused, neglected, or dependent child, and post-decree 1323
proceedings and matters arising from those types of cases. 1324

       The judge of the domestic relations division shall be charged 1325
with the assignment and division of the work of the division and 1326
with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the 1327
division. 1328

       The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense 1329
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1330
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the 1331
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the 1332
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the 1333
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of 1334
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising 1335
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving 1336
child support, the allocation of parental rights and 1337
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for 1338
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, 1339
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and 1340
conciliation services that the division makes available to 1341
persons, regardless of whether the persons are parties to an 1342
action pending in the division, who request the services. When the 1343
judge hears a case to determine the custody of a child, as defined 1344
in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of 1345
another court of this state or a case that is commenced by a 1346
parent, guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section 1347
2151.011 of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a 1348
parent of the child to pay child support for that child when the 1349
request for that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, 1350
dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a 1351
criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic 1352
violence, an action for support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised 1353
Code, or an action that is within the exclusive original 1354
jurisdiction of the probate-juvenile division of the court of 1355
common pleas of Fairfield county and that involves an allegation 1356
that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent child, the 1357
duties of the personnel of the domestic relations division also 1358
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of those types 1359
of cases. 1360

       (W)(1) In Clark county, the judge of the court of common 1361
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 1995, and successors, shall 1362
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 1363
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of 1364
the court of common pleas of Clark county and shall be elected and 1365
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, domestic 1366
relations division. The judge shall have all the powers relating 1367
to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. 1368
of the Revised Code and all parentage proceedings under Chapter 1369
3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has 1370
jurisdiction shall be assigned to the judge of the division of 1371
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 1372
separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support enforcement, and 1373
other cases related to domestic relations shall be assigned to the 1374
domestic relations division, and the presiding judge of the court 1375
of common pleas shall assign the cases to the judge of the 1376
domestic relations division and the judges of the general 1377
division. 1378

       (2) In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of 1379
the division of domestic relations shall serve on the children 1380
services board and the county advisory board. 1381

       (3) If the judge of the court of common pleas of Clark 1382
county, division of domestic relations, is sick, absent, or unable 1383
to perform that judge's judicial duties or if the presiding judge 1384
of the court of common pleas of Clark county determines that the 1385
volume of cases pending in the division of domestic relations 1386
necessitates it, the duties of the judge of the division of 1387
domestic relations shall be performed by the judges of the general 1388
division or probate division of the court of common pleas of Clark 1389
county, as assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of 1390
that court, and the judges so assigned shall act in conjunction 1391
with the judge of the division of domestic relations of that 1392
court. 1393

       (X) In Scioto county, the judge of the court of common pleas 1394
whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall have the 1395
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, 1396
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of 1397
common pleas of Scioto county and shall be elected and designated 1398
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic 1399
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of 1400
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising 1401
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving 1402
child support, the allocation of parental rights and 1403
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for 1404
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, 1405
parenting time, visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and 1406
matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases 1407
that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the 1408
court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the 1409
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the 1410
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division. 1411

       The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense 1412
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1413
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the 1414
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in 1415
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling, 1416
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, 1417
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter 1418
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child 1419
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities 1420
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a 1421
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and 1422
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services 1423
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the 1424
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who 1425
request the services. 1426

       (Y) In Auglaize county, the judge of the probate and juvenile 1427
divisions of the Auglaize county court of common pleas also shall 1428
be the administrative judge of the domestic relations division of 1429
the court and shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of 1430
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the 1431
court. The judge shall have all powers as administrator of the 1432
domestic relations division and shall have charge of the personnel 1433
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, 1434
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, 1435
including any referees considered necessary for the discharge of 1436
the judge's various duties. 1437

       (Z)(1) In Marion county, the judge of the court of common 1438
pleas whose term begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to 1439
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same 1440
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the 1441
other judges of the court of common pleas of Marion county and 1442
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common 1443
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as 1444
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the 1445
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to 1446
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of 1447
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the 1448
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 1449
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child 1450
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities 1451
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a 1452
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and 1453
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising 1454
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge 1455
and the successors to that judge. Except as provided in division 1456
(Z)(2) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of 1457
any section of the Revised Code, on and after February 9, 2003, 1458
the judge of the court of common pleas of Marion county whose term 1459
begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to that judge, 1460
shall have all the powers relating to the probate division of the 1461
court of common pleas of Marion county in addition to the powers 1462
previously specified in this division, and shall exercise 1463
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of 1464
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of 1465
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other 1466
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of 1467
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court 1468
otherwise specified in division (Z)(1) of this section. 1469

       (2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate 1470
division of the court of common pleas of Marion county or the 1471
judge of the probate division of the court of common pleas of 1472
Marion county, whichever of those judges is senior in total length 1473
of service on the court of common pleas of Marion county, 1474
regardless of the division or divisions of service, shall serve as 1475
the clerk of the probate division of the court of common pleas of 1476
Marion county. 1477

       (3) On and after February 9, 2003, all references in law to 1478
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or 1479
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect 1480
to Marion county, as being references to both "the probate 1481
division" and "the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division" 1482
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate 1483
division" and "the judge of the domestic relations- 1484
juvenile-probate division." On and after February 9, 2003, all 1485
references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" shall be 1486
construed, with respect to Marion county, as being references to 1487
the judge who is serving pursuant to division (Z)(2) of this 1488
section as the clerk of the probate division of the court of 1489
common pleas of Marion county. 1490

       (AA) In Muskingum county, the judge of the court of common 1491
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 2003, and successors, shall 1492
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 1493
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other 1494
judges of the court of common pleas of Muskingum county and shall 1495
be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common 1496
pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned 1497
all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and 1498
annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the 1499
Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the 1500
allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of 1501
children and the designation for the children of a place of 1502
residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and 1503
all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases 1504
and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are 1505
assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge 1506
shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of 1507
the division and with the employment and supervision of the 1508
personnel of the division. 1509

       The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense 1510
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the 1511
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the 1512
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the 1513
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the 1514
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of 1515
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising 1516
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving 1517
child support, the allocation of parental rights and 1518
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for 1519
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, 1520
parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and 1521
conciliation services that the division makes available to 1522
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action 1523
pending in the division, who request the services. 1524

       (BB) In Henry county, the judge of the court of common pleas 1525
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, shall have 1526
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and 1527
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judge 1528
of the court of common pleas of Henry county and shall be elected 1529
and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division 1530
of domestic relations. The judge shall have all of the powers 1531
relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapter 2151. or 1532
2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings arising under 1533
Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court 1534
has jurisdiction, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 1535
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child 1536
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities 1537
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a 1538
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and 1539
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising 1540
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge, 1541
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to the 1542
other judge of the court of common pleas. 1543

       (CC)(1) In Logan county, the judge of the court of common 1544
pleas whose term begins January 2, 2005, and the successors to 1545
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same 1546
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the 1547
other judges of the court of common pleas of Logan county and 1548
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common 1549
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as 1550
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the 1551
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to 1552
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of 1553
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the 1554
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal 1555
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child 1556
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities 1557
for the care of children and designation for the children of a 1558
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and 1559
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising 1560
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge 1561
and the successors to that judge. Notwithstanding any other 1562
provision of any section of the Revised Code, on and after January 1563
2, 2005, the judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county 1564
whose term begins on January 2, 2005, and the successors to that 1565
judge, shall have all the powers relating to the probate division 1566
of the court of common pleas of Logan county in addition to the 1567
powers previously specified in this division and shall exercise 1568
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of 1569
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of 1570
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other 1571
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of 1572
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court 1573
otherwise specified in division (CC)(1) of this section. 1574

        (2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate 1575
division of the court of common pleas of Logan county or the 1576
probate judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county who is 1577
elected as the administrative judge of the probate division of the 1578
court of common pleas of Logan county pursuant to Rule 4 of the 1579
Rules of Superintendence shall be the clerk of the probate 1580
division and juvenile division of the court of common pleas of 1581
Logan county. The clerk of the court of common pleas who is 1582
elected pursuant to section 2303.01 of the Revised Code shall keep 1583
all of the journals, records, books, papers, and files pertaining 1584
to the domestic relations cases. 1585

        (3) On and after January 2, 2005, all references in law to 1586
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or 1587
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect 1588
to Logan county, as being references to both "the probate 1589
division" and the "domestic relations-juvenile-probate division" 1590
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate 1591
division" and the "judge of the domestic 1592
relations-juvenile-probate division." On and after January 2, 1593
2005, all references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" 1594
shall be construed, with respect to Logan county, as being 1595
references to the judge who is serving pursuant to division 1596
(CC)(2) of this section as the clerk of the probate division of 1597
the court of common pleas of Logan county. 1598

       (DD)(1) In Champaign county, the judge of the court of common 1599
pleas whose term begins February 9, 2003, and the judge of the 1600
court of common pleas whose term begins January 1, 2009, and the 1601
successors to those judges, shall have the same qualifications, 1602
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same 1603
compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of 1604
Champaign county and shall be elected and designated as judges of 1605
the court of common pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate 1606
division. Except as otherwise specified in this division, those 1607
judges, and the successors to those judges, shall have all the 1608
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 1609
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all cases arising under 1610
Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of 1611
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings 1612
involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and 1613
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for 1614
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian, 1615
parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings 1616
and matters arising from those cases and proceedings shall be 1617
assigned to those judges and the successors to those judges. 1618
Notwithstanding any other provision of any section of the Revised 1619
Code, on and after January 1, 2009, the judges designated by this 1620
division as judges of the court of common pleas of Champaign 1621
county, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division, and the 1622
successors to those judges, shall have all the powers relating to 1623
probate courts in addition to the powers previously specified in 1624
this division and shall exercise jurisdiction over all matters 1625
that are within the jurisdiction of probate courts under Chapter 1626
2101., and other provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to 1627
the jurisdiction of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate 1628
division otherwise specified in division (DD)(1) of this section. 1629

       (2) On and after January 1, 2009, all references in law to 1630
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or 1631
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed with respect 1632
to Champaign county as being references to the "domestic 1633
relations-juvenile-probate division" and as being references to 1634
the "judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division." 1635
On and after January 1, 2009, all references in law to "the clerk 1636
of the probate court" shall be construed with respect to Champaign 1637
county as being references to the judge who is serving pursuant to 1638
Rule 4 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio as 1639
the administrative judge of the court of common pleas, domestic 1640
relations-juvenile-probate division. 1641

       (EE) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of 1642
domestic relations, or juvenile judge, of any of the counties 1643
mentioned in this section is sick, absent, or unable to perform 1644
that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the 1645
judge's division necessitates it, the duties of that judge shall 1646
be performed by another judge of the court of common pleas of that 1647
county, assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of the 1648
court of common pleas of that county to act in place of or in 1649
conjunction with that judge, as the case may require. 1650

       Section 2. That existing sections 2301.02 and 2301.03 of the 1651
Revised Code are hereby repealed. 1652

Section 1. That sections 2301.02 and 2301.03 of the Revised	9
Code be amended to read as follow:	10

Sec. 2301.02. The number of judges of the court of common	11
pleas for each county, the time for the next election of the	12
judges in the several counties, and the beginning of their terms	13
shall be as follows:	14

(A) In Adams, Ashland, Fayette, and Pike counties, one judge,	15
elected in 1956, term to begin February 9, 1957;	16

In Brown, Crawford, Defiance, Highland, Holmes, Morgan,	17
Ottawa, and Union counties, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term	18
to begin February 9, 1955;	19

In Auglaize county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	20
begin January 9, 1957;	21

In Coshocton, Darke, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin,	22
Jackson, Knox, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Paulding, Vinton, and	23
Wyandot counties, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to begin	24
January 1, 1957;	25

In Morrow county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	26
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2006, term to	27
begin January 1, 2007;	28

In Logan county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	29
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to	30
begin January 2, 2005;	31

In Carroll, ~~Champaign,~~ Clinton, Hocking, Meigs, Pickaway,	32
Preble, Shelby, Van Wert, and Williams counties, one judge, to be	33
elected in 1952, term to begin January 1, 1953;	34

In Champaign county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	35
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 2008, term	36
to begin January 1, 2009.	37

In Harrison and Noble counties, one judge, to be elected in	38
1954, term to begin April 18, 1955;	39

In Henry county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	40
to begin May 9, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin	41
January 1, 2005;	42

In Putnam county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	43
begin May 9, 1957;	44

In Huron county, one judge, to be elected in 1952, term to	45
begin May 14, 1953;	46

In Perry county, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term to	47
begin July 6, 1956;	48

In Sandusky county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	49
term to begin February 10, 1955, and one to be elected in 1978,	50
term to begin January 1, 1979;	51

(B) In Allen county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	52
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1958,	53
term to begin January 1, 1959, and the third to be elected in	54
1992, term to begin January 1, 1993;	55

In Ashtabula county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	56
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1960, term to	57
begin January 1, 1961, and one to be elected in 1978, term to	58
begin January 2, 1979;	59

In Athens county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	60
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1990, term to	61
begin July 1, 1991;	62

In Erie county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	63
to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1970, term	64
to begin January 2, 1971, the third to be elected in 2004, term to	65
begin January 2, 2005, and the fourth to be elected in 2008, term	66
to begin February 9, 2009;	67

In Fairfield county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	68
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	69
term to begin January 1, 1971, and the third to be elected in	70
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	71

In Geauga county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	72
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	73
term to begin January 6, 1977;	74

In Greene county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	75
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	76
term to begin January 1, 1961, the third to be elected in 1978,	77
term to begin January 2, 1979, and the fourth to be elected in	78
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	79

In Hancock county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	80
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	81
1978, term to begin January 1, 1979;	82

In Lawrence county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	83
term to begin February 9, 1955, and the second to be elected in	84
1976, term to begin January 1, 1977;	85

In Marion county, three judges, one to be elected in 1952,	86
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1976,	87
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the third to be elected in	88
1998, term to begin February 9, 1999;	89

In Medina county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	90
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1966,	91
term to begin January 1, 1967, and the third to be elected in	92
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	93

In Miami county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	94
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1970, term to	95
begin on January 1, 1971;	96

In Muskingum county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968,	97
term to begin August 9, 1969, one to be elected in 1978, term to	98
begin January 1, 1979, and one to be elected in 2002, term to	99
begin January 2, 2003;	100

In Portage county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	101
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	102
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	103
1986, term to begin January 2, 1987;	104