As Reported by the House Judiciary Committee

127th General Assembly Regular Session 2007-2008

Sub. S. B. No. 155

Senator Faber 

Cosponsors: Senators Schuler, Grendell, Spada, Kearney, Austria, Boccieri, Buehrer, Cates, Harris 

Representatives Blessing, Wagoner, Coley, Latta, Gerberry, Bacon, Batchelder, Seitz 

---

A BILL

To amend sections 2151.07, 2301.02, and 2301.03 and

1

to enact sections 141.06 and 2101.025 of the

2

Revised Code and to amend Section 6 of Sub. H.B.

3

336 of the 126th General Assembly to specify the

4

rate of compensation of a member of the current or

5

previous General Assembly who is appointed to

6

judicial office, to create a Domestic

7

Relations-Juvenile-Probate Division of the

8

Champaign County Court of Common Pleas, to

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designate the Champaign County Probate and

10

Juvenile Judge as a judge of that division, to

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add a judge to that division to be elected in

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2008, to make the Hamilton County Drug Court

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permanent, to extend the deadline by which the

14

report of the Joint Committee to Study Court

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Costs and Filing Fees is due, and to declare an

16

emergency.

17

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

Section 1. That sections 2151.07, 2301.02, and 2301.03 be	18
amended and sections 141.06 and 2101.025 of the Revised Code be	19
enacted to read as follows:	20

Sec. 141.06. A member of the current general assembly, or a	21
person who was a member of the current or previous general	22
assembly, who is appointed to fill the unexpired term of office of	23
the chief justice or a justice of the supreme court or of any	24
judge shall receive compensation for the balance of that unexpired	25
term at the rate that was in effect for that office on the last	26
day of the general assembly prior to the one during which the	27
person was appointed.	28

Sec. 2101.025. Effective February 9, 2009, the probate judge	29
of the court of common pleas of Champaign county shall have all	30
the powers relating to the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	31
division of the court of common pleas of Champaign county, as	32
established pursuant to division (DD)(1) of section 2301.03 of the	33
Revised Code, and shall exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the	34
judges of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of the	35
court of common pleas of Champaign county over matters that are	36
within the jurisdiction of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	37
division, as set forth in division (DD)(1) of section 2301.03 of	38
the Revised Code.	39

Sec. 2151.07.  The juvenile court is a court of record within	40
the court of common pleas. The juvenile court has and shall	41
exercise the powers and jurisdiction conferred in Chapters 2151.	42
and 2152. of the Revised Code.	43

Whenever the juvenile judge of the juvenile court is sick, is	44
absent from the county, or is unable to attend court, or the	45
volume of cases pending in court necessitates it, upon the request	46
of the administrative juvenile judge, the presiding judge of the	47
court of common pleas pursuant to division (DD)(EE) of section	48
2301.03 of the Revised Code shall assign a judge of any division	49
of the court of common pleas of the county to act in the juvenile	50
judge's place or in conjunction with the juvenile judge. If no	51
judge of the court of common pleas is available for that purpose,	52
the chief justice of the supreme court shall assign a judge of the	53
court of common pleas, a juvenile judge, or a probate judge from a	54
different county to act in the place of that juvenile judge or in	55
conjunction with that juvenile judge. The assigned judge shall	56
receive the compensation and expenses for so serving that is	57
provided by law for judges assigned to hold court in courts of	58
common pleas.	59

Sec. 2301.02.  The number of judges of the court of common	60
pleas for each county, the time for the next election of the	61
judges in the several counties, and the beginning of their terms	62
shall be as follows:	63

(A) In Adams, Ashland, Fayette, and Pike counties, one judge,	64
elected in 1956, term to begin February 9, 1957;	65

In Brown, Crawford, Defiance, Highland, Holmes, Morgan,	66
Ottawa, and Union counties, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term	67
to begin February 9, 1955;	68

In Auglaize county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	69
begin January 9, 1957;	70

In Coshocton, Darke, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin,	71
Jackson, Knox, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Paulding, Vinton, and	72
Wyandot counties, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to begin	73
January 1, 1957;	74

In Morrow county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	75
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2006, term to	76
begin January 1, 2007;	77

In Logan county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	78
to begin January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to	79
begin January 2, 2005;	80

In Carroll, Champaign, Clinton, Hocking, Meigs, Pickaway,	81
Preble, Shelby, Van Wert, and Williams counties, one judge, to be	82
elected in 1952, term to begin January 1, 1953;	83

In Champaign county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	84
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 2008, term	85
to begin February 10, 2009.	86

In Harrison and Noble counties, one judge, to be elected in	87
1954, term to begin April 18, 1955;	88

In Henry county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	89
to begin May 9, 1957, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin	90
January 1, 2005;	91

In Putnam county, one judge, to be elected in 1956, term to	92
begin May 9, 1957;	93

In Huron county, one judge, to be elected in 1952, term to	94
begin May 14, 1953;	95

In Perry county, one judge, to be elected in 1954, term to	96
begin July 6, 1956;	97

In Sandusky county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	98
term to begin February 10, 1955, and one to be elected in 1978,	99
term to begin January 1, 1979;	100

(B) In Allen county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	101
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1958,	102
term to begin January 1, 1959, and the third to be elected in	103
1992, term to begin January 1, 1993;	104

In Ashtabula county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	105
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1960, term to	106
begin January 1, 1961, and one to be elected in 1978, term to	107
begin January 2, 1979;	108

In Athens county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	109
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1990, term to	110
begin July 1, 1991;	111

In Erie county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	112
to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1970, term	113
to begin January 2, 1971, the third to be elected in 2004, term to	114
begin January 2, 2005, and the fourth to be elected in 2008, term	115
to begin February 9, 2009;	116

In Fairfield county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	117
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	118
term to begin January 1, 1971, and the third to be elected in	119
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	120

In Geauga county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	121
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	122
term to begin January 6, 1977;	123

In Greene county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	124
term to begin February 9, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	125
term to begin January 1, 1961, the third to be elected in 1978,	126
term to begin January 2, 1979, and the fourth to be elected in	127
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	128

In Hancock county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	129
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	130
1978, term to begin January 1, 1979;	131

In Lawrence county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954,	132
term to begin February 9, 1955, and the second to be elected in	133
1976, term to begin January 1, 1977;	134

In Marion county, three judges, one to be elected in 1952,	135
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1976,	136
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the third to be elected in	137
1998, term to begin February 9, 1999;	138

In Medina county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	139
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1966,	140
term to begin January 1, 1967, and the third to be elected in	141
1994, term to begin January 1, 1995;	142

In Miami county, two judges, one to be elected in 1954, term	143
to begin February 9, 1955, and one to be elected in 1970, term to	144
begin on January 1, 1971;	145

In Muskingum county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968,	146
term to begin August 9, 1969, one to be elected in 1978, term to	147
begin January 1, 1979, and one to be elected in 2002, term to	148
begin January 2, 2003;	149

In Portage county, three judges, one to be elected in 1956,	150
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	151
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	152
1986, term to begin January 2, 1987;	153

In Ross county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	154
to begin February 9, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1976,	155
term to begin January 1, 1977;	156

In Scioto county, three judges, one to be elected in 1954,	157
term to begin February 10, 1955, the second to be elected in 1960,	158
term to begin January 1, 1961, and the third to be elected in	159
1994, term to begin January 2, 1995;	160

In Seneca county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	161
to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in 1986,	162
term to begin January 2, 1987;	163

In Warren county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,	164
term to begin February 9, 1955, the second to be elected in 1970,	165
term to begin January 1, 1971, the third to be elected in 1986,	166
term to begin January 1, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in	167
2004, term to begin January 2, 2005;	168

In Washington county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	169
term to begin January 1, 1953, and one to be elected in 1986, term	170
to begin January 1, 1987;	171

In Wood county, three judges, one to be elected in 1968, term	172
beginning January 1, 1969, the second to be elected in 1970, term	173
to begin January 2, 1971, and the third to be elected in 1990,	174
term to begin January 1, 1991;	175

In Belmont and Jefferson counties, two judges, to be elected	176
in 1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	177
respectively;	178

In Clark county, four judges, one to be elected in 1952, term	179
to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1956, term	180
to begin January 2, 1957, the third to be elected in 1986, term to	181
begin January 3, 1987, and the fourth to be elected in 1994, term	182
to begin January 2, 1995.	183

In Clermont county, five judges, one to be elected in 1956,	184
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1964,	185
term to begin January 1, 1965, the third to be elected in 1982,	186
term to begin January 2, 1983, the fourth to be elected in 1986,	187
term to begin January 2, 1987; and the fifth to be elected in	188
2006, term to begin January 3, 2007;	189

In Columbiana county, two judges, one to be elected in 1952,	190
term to begin January 1, 1953, and the second to be elected in	191
1956, term to begin January 1, 1957;	192

In Delaware county, two judges, one to be elected in 1990,	193
term to begin February 9, 1991, the second to be elected in 1994,	194
term to begin January 1, 1995;	195

In Lake county, six judges, one to be elected in 1958, term	196
to begin January 1, 1959, the second to be elected in 1960, term	197
to begin January 2, 1961, the third to be elected in 1964, term to	198
begin January 3, 1965, the fourth and fifth to be elected in 1978,	199
terms to begin January 4, 1979, and January 5, 1979, respectively,	200
and the sixth to be elected in 2000, term to begin January 6,	201
2001;	202

In Licking county, four judges, one to be elected in 1954,	203
term to begin February 9, 1955, one to be elected in 1964, term to	204
begin January 1, 1965, one to be elected in 1990, term to begin	205
January 1, 1991, and one to be elected in 2004, term to begin	206
January 1, 2005;	207

In Lorain county, ten judges, two to be elected in 1952,	208
terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953, respectively,	209
one to be elected in 1958, term to begin January 3, 1959, one to	210
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 1, 1969, two to be	211
elected in 1988, terms to begin January 4, 1989, and January 5,	212
1989, respectively, two to be elected in 1998, terms to begin	213
January 2, 1999, and January 3, 1999, respectively; one to be	214
elected in 2006, term to begin January 6, 2007; and one to be	215
elected in 2008, term to begin February 9, 2009, as described in	216
division (C)(1)(c) of section 2301.03 of the Revised Code;	217

In Butler county, eleven judges, one to be elected in 1956,	218
term to begin January 1, 1957; two to be elected in 1954, terms to	219
begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; one to	220
be elected in 1968, term to begin January 2, 1969; one to be	221
elected in 1986, term to begin January 3, 1987; two to be elected	222
in 1988, terms to begin January 1, 1989, and January 2, 1989,	223
respectively; one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 4,	224
1993; two to be elected in 2002, terms to begin January 2, 2003,	225
and January 3, 2003, respectively; and one to be elected in 2006,	226
term to begin January 3, 2007;	227

In Richland county, four judges, one to be elected in 1956,	228
term to begin January 1, 1957, the second to be elected in 1960,	229
term to begin February 9, 1961, the third to be elected in 1968,	230
term to begin January 2, 1969, and the fourth to be elected in	231
2004, term to begin January 3, 2005;	232

In Tuscarawas county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956,	233
term to begin January 1, 1957, and the second to be elected in	234
1960, term to begin January 2, 1961;	235

In Wayne county, two judges, one to be elected in 1956, term	236
beginning January 1, 1957, and one to be elected in 1968, term to	237
begin January 2, 1969;	238

In Trumbull county, six judges, one to be elected in 1952,	239
term to begin January 1, 1953, the second to be elected in 1954,	240
term to begin January 1, 1955, the third to be elected in 1956,	241
term to begin January 1, 1957, the fourth to be elected in 1964,	242
term to begin January 1, 1965, the fifth to be elected in 1976,	243
term to begin January 2, 1977, and the sixth to be elected in	244
1994, term to begin January 3, 1995;	245

(C) In Cuyahoga county, thirty-nine judges; eight to be	246
elected in 1954, terms to begin on successive days beginning from	247
January 1, 1955, to January 7, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	248
respectively; eight to be elected in 1956, terms to begin on	249
successive days beginning from January 1, 1957, to January 8,	250
1957; three to be elected in 1952, terms to begin from January 1,	251
1953, to January 3, 1953; two to be elected in 1960, terms to	252
begin on January 8, 1961, and January 9, 1961, respectively; two	253
to be elected in 1964, terms to begin January 4, 1965, and January	254
5, 1965, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin on	255
January 10, 1967; four to be elected in 1968, terms to begin on	256
successive days beginning from January 9, 1969, to January 12,	257
1969; two to be elected in 1974, terms to begin on January 18,	258
1975, and January 19, 1975, respectively; five to be elected in	259
1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning January 6, 1977,	260
to January 10, 1977; two to be elected in 1982, terms to begin	261
January 11, 1983, and January 12, 1983, respectively; and two to	262
be elected in 1986, terms to begin January 13, 1987, and January	263
14, 1987, respectively;	264

In Franklin county, twenty-two judges; two to be elected in	265
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	266
respectively; four to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January	267
1, 1957, to January 4, 1957; four to be elected in 1958, terms to	268
begin January 1, 1959, to January 4, 1959; three to be elected in	269
1968, terms to begin January 5, 1969, to January 7, 1969; three to	270
be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days beginning	271
January 5, 1977, to January 7, 1977; one to be elected in 1982,	272
term to begin January 8, 1983; one to be elected in 1986, term to	273
begin January 9, 1987; two to be elected in 1990, terms to begin	274
July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991, respectively; one to be elected in	275
1996, term to begin January 2, 1997; and one to be elected in	276
2004, term to begin July 1, 2005;	277

In Hamilton county, twenty-one judges; eight to be elected in	278
1966, terms to begin January 1, 1967, January 2, 1967, and from	279
February 9, 1967, to February 14, 1967, respectively; five to be	280
elected in 1956, terms to begin from January 1, 1957, to January	281
5, 1957; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 1, 1965;	282
one to be elected in 1974, term to begin January 15, 1975; one to	283
be elected in 1980, term to begin January 16, 1981; two to be	284
elected at large in the general election in 1982, terms to begin	285
April 1, 1983; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,	286
1991; and two to be elected in 1996, terms to begin January 3,	287
1997, and January 4, 1997, respectively;	288

In Lucas county, fourteen judges; two to be elected in 1954,	289
terms to begin January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955,	290
respectively; two to be elected in 1956, terms to begin January 1,	291
1957, and October 29, 1957, respectively; two to be elected in	292
1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1953,	293
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,	294
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 4, 1969;	295
two to be elected in 1976, terms to begin January 4, 1977, and	296
January 5, 1977, respectively; one to be elected in 1982, term to	297
begin January 6, 1983; one to be elected in 1988, term to begin	298
January 7, 1989; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin January	299
2, 1991; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 2,	300
1993;	301

In Mahoning county, seven judges; three to be elected in	302
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and	303
February 9, 1955, respectively; one to be elected in 1956, term to	304
begin January 1, 1957; one to be elected in 1952, term to begin	305
January 1, 1953; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January	306
2, 1969; and one to be elected in 1990, term to begin July 1,	307
1991;	308

In Montgomery county, fifteen judges; three to be elected in	309
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, and January	310
3, 1955, respectively; four to be elected in 1952, terms to begin	311
January 1, 1953, January 2, 1953, July 1, 1953, and July 2, 1953,	312
respectively; one to be elected in 1964, term to begin January 3,	313
1965; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January 3, 1969;	314
three to be elected in 1976, terms to begin on successive days	315
beginning January 4, 1977, to January 6, 1977; two to be elected	316
in 1990, terms to begin July 1, 1991, and July 2, 1991,	317
respectively; and one to be elected in 1992, term to begin January	318
1, 1993.	319

In Stark county, eight judges; one to be elected in 1958,	320
term to begin on January 2, 1959; two to be elected in 1954, terms	321
to begin on January 1, 1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively;	322
two to be elected in 1952, terms to begin January 1, 1953, and	323
April 16, 1953, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to	324
begin on January 4, 1967; and two to be elected in 1992, terms to	325
begin January 1, 1993, and January 2, 1993, respectively;	326

In Summit county, thirteen judges; four to be elected in	327
1954, terms to begin January 1, 1955, January 2, 1955, January 3,	328
1955, and February 9, 1955, respectively; three to be elected in	329
1958, terms to begin January 1, 1959, January 2, 1959, and May 17,	330
1959, respectively; one to be elected in 1966, term to begin	331
January 4, 1967; one to be elected in 1968, term to begin January	332
5, 1969; one to be elected in 1990, term to begin May 1, 1991; one	333
to be elected in 1992, term to begin January 6, 1993; and two to	334
be elected in 2008, terms to begin January 5, 2009, and January 6,	335
2009, respectively.	336

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, in any county	337
having two or more judges of the court of common pleas, in which	338
more than one-third of the judges plus one were previously elected	339
at the same election, if the office of one of those judges so	340
elected becomes vacant more than forty days prior to the second	341
general election preceding the expiration of that judge's term,	342
the office that that judge had filled shall be abolished as of the	343
date of the next general election, and a new office of judge of	344
the court of common pleas shall be created. The judge who is to	345
fill that new office shall be elected for a six-year term at the	346
next general election, and the term of that judge shall commence	347
on the first day of the year following that general election, on	348
which day no other judge's term begins, so that the number of	349
judges that the county shall elect shall not be reduced.	350

Judges of the probate division of the court of common pleas	351
are judges of the court of common pleas but shall be elected	352
pursuant to sections 2101.02 and 2101.021 of the Revised Code,	353
except in Adams, Harrison, Henry, Morgan, Noble, and Wyandot	354
counties in which the judge of the court of common pleas elected	355
pursuant to this section also shall serve as judge of the probate	356
division, except in Lorain county in which the judges of the	357
domestic relations division of the Lorain county court of common	358
pleas elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the	359
duties and functions of the judge of the probate division, and	360
except in Morrow county in which the judges of the court of common	361
pleas elected pursuant to this section also shall perform the	362
duties and functions of the judge of the probate division.	363

Sec. 2301.03.  (A) In Franklin county, the judges of the	364
court of common pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953,	365
January 2, 1953, January 5, 1969, January 5, 1977, and January 2,	366
1997, and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise	367
the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	368
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of	369
Franklin county and shall be elected and designated as judges of	370
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They	371
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all	372
cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all	373
parentage proceedings under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over	374
which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	375
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	376
shall be assigned to them. In addition to the judge's regular	377
duties, the judge who is senior in point of service shall serve on	378
the children services board and the county advisory board and	379
shall be the administrator of the domestic relations division and	380
its subdivisions and departments.	381

(B) In Hamilton county:

382

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas, whose term begins	383
on January 1, 1957, and successors, and the judge of the court of	384
common pleas, whose term begins on February 14, 1967, and	385
successors, shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	386
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and	387
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters.	388

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	389
on January 5, 1957, January 16, 1981, and July 1, 1991, and	390
successors, shall be elected and designated as judges of the court	391
of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and shall have	392
assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	393
separation, and annulment cases coming before the court. On or	394
after the first day of July and before the first day of August of	395
1991 and each year thereafter, a majority of the judges of the	396
division of domestic relations shall elect one of the judges of	397
the division as administrative judge of that division. If a	398
majority of the judges of the division of domestic relations are	399
unable for any reason to elect an administrative judge for the	400
division before the first day of August, a majority of the judges	401
of the Hamilton county court of common pleas, as soon as possible	402
after that date, shall elect one of the judges of the division of	403
domestic relations as administrative judge of that division. The	404
term of the administrative judge shall begin on the earlier of the	405
first day of August of the year in which the administrative judge	406
is elected or the date on which the administrative judge is	407
elected by a majority of the judges of the Hamilton county court	408
of common pleas and shall terminate on the date on which the	409
administrative judge's successor is elected in the following year.	410

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the administrative	411
judge of the division of domestic relations shall be the	412
administrator of the domestic relations division and its	413
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	414
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	415
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	416
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	417
including any referees considered necessary by the judges in the	418
discharge of their various duties.	419

The administrative judge of the division of domestic	420
relations also shall designate the title, compensation, expense	421
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	422
personnel of the division, and shall fix the duties of its	423
personnel. The duties of the personnel, in addition to those	424
provided for in other sections of the Revised Code, shall include	425
the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution	426
of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling	427
and conciliation services that may be made available to persons	428
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	429
action pending in the division.	430

The board of county commissioners shall appropriate the sum	431
of money each year as will meet all the administrative expenses of	432
the division of domestic relations, including reasonable expenses	433
of the domestic relations judges and the division counselors and	434
other employees designated to conduct the handling, servicing, and	435
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	436
separation, and annulment cases, conciliation and counseling, and	437
all matters relating to those cases and counseling, and the	438
expenses involved in the attendance of division personnel at	439
domestic relations and welfare conferences designated by the	440
division, and the further sum each year as will provide for the	441
adequate operation of the division of domestic relations.	442

The compensation and expenses of all employees and the salary	443
and expenses of the judges shall be paid by the county treasurer	444
from the money appropriated for the operation of the division,	445
upon the warrant of the county auditor, certified to by the	446
administrative judge of the division of domestic relations.	447

The summonses, warrants, citations, subpoenas, and other	448
writs of the division may issue to a bailiff, constable, or staff	449
investigator of the division or to the sheriff of any county or	450
any marshal, constable, or police officer, and the provisions of	451
law relating to the subpoenaing of witnesses in other cases shall	452
apply insofar as they are applicable. When a summons, warrant,	453
citation, subpoena, or other writ is issued to an officer, other	454
than a bailiff, constable, or staff investigator of the division,	455
the expense of serving it shall be assessed as a part of the costs	456
in the case involved.	457

(3) The judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county	458
whose term begins on January 3, 1997, and the successorsuccessors	459
to that judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall each be	460
elected and designated for one term only as the drug court judge	461
of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county. The successors	462
to the judge whose term begins on January 3, 2003, shall be	463
elected and designated as judges of the general division of the	464
court of common pleas of Hamilton county and shall not have the	465
authority granted by division (B)(3) of this section. The drug	466
court judge may accept or reject any case referred to the drug	467
court judge under division (B)(3) of this section. After the drug	468
court judge accepts a referred case, the drug court judge has	469
full authority over the case, including the authority to conduct	470
arraignment, accept pleas, enter findings and dispositions,	471
conduct trials, order treatment, and if treatment is not	472
successfully completed pronounce and enter sentence.	473

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas	474
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal	475
court may refer to the drug court judge any case, and any	476
companion cases, the judge determines meet the criteria described	477
under divisions (B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section. If the drug	478
court judge accepts referral of a referred case, the case, and any	479
companion cases, shall be transferred to the drug court judge. A	480
judge may refer a case meeting the criteria described in divisions	481
(B)(3)(a) and (b) of this section that involves a violation of a	482
condition of a community control sanction to the drug court judge,	483
and, if the drug court judge accepts the referral, the referring	484
judge and the drug court judge have concurrent jurisdiction over	485
the case.	486

A judge of the general division of the court of common pleas	487
of Hamilton county and a judge of the Hamilton county municipal	488
court may refer a case to the drug court judge under division	489
(B)(3) of this section if the judge determines that both of the	490
following apply:	491

(a) One of the following applies:

492

(i) The case involves a drug abuse offense, as defined in	493
section 2925.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third	494
or fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1,	495
1996, a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the	496
offense is committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor.	497

(ii) The case involves a theft offense, as defined in section	498
2913.01 of the Revised Code, that is a felony of the third or	499
fourth degree if the offense is committed prior to July 1, 1996, a	500
felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree if the offense is	501
committed on or after July 1, 1996, or a misdemeanor, and the	502
defendant is drug or alcohol dependent or in danger of becoming	503
drug or alcohol dependent and would benefit from treatment.	504

(b) All of the following apply:

505

(i) The case involves an offense for which a community	506
control sanction may be imposed or is a case in which a mandatory	507
prison term or a mandatory jail term is not required to be	508
imposed.	509

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

510

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

511

(iv) The defendant's current or past behavior, or both, is	512
drug or alcohol driven.	513

(v) The defendant demonstrates a sincere willingness to	514
participate in a fifteen-month treatment process.	515

(vi) The defendant has no acute health condition.

516

(vii) If the defendant is incarcerated, the county prosecutor	517
approves of the referral.	518

(4) If the administrative judge of the court of common pleas	519
of Hamilton county determines that the volume of cases pending	520
before the drug court judge does not constitute a sufficient	521
caseload for the drug court judge, the administrative judge, in	522
accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Courts of Common	523
Pleas, shall assign individual cases to the drug court judge from	524
the general docket of the court. If the assignments so occur, the	525
administrative judge shall cease the assignments when the	526
administrative judge determines that the volume of cases pending	527
before the drug court judge constitutes a sufficient caseload for	528
the drug court judge.	529

(5) As used in division (B) of this section, "community	530
control sanction," "mandatory prison term," and "mandatory jail	531
term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised	532
Code.	533

(C)(1) In Lorain county:

534

(a) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	535
on January 3, 1959, January 4, 1989, January 2, 1999, and	536
February 9, 2009, and successors, shall have the same	537
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	538
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	539
common pleas of Lorain county and shall be elected and designated	540
as the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	541
relations. They shall have all of the powers relating to juvenile	542
courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	543
Revised Code, all parentage proceedings over which the juvenile	544
court has jurisdiction, and all divorce, dissolution of marriage,	545
legal separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them,	546
except cases that for some special reason are assigned to some	547
other judge of the court of common pleas.	548

(b) On and after January 1, 2006, the judges of the court of	549
common pleas, division of domestic relations, in addition to the	550
powers and jurisdiction set forth in division (C)(1)(a) of this	551
section, shall have jurisdiction over matters that are within the	552
jurisdiction of the probate court under Chapter 2101. and other	553
provisions of the Revised Code. From January 1, 2006, through	554
February 8, 2009, the judges of the court of common pleas,	555
division of domestic relations, shall exercise probate	556
jurisdiction concurrently with the probate judge.	557

(c) The judge of the court of common pleas, division of	558
domestic relations, whose term begins on February 9, 2009, is the	559
successor to the probate judge who was elected in 2002 for a term	560
that began on February 9, 2003.	561

(2)(a) From January 1, 2006, through February 8, 2009, with	562
respect to Lorain county, all references in law to the probate	563
court shall be construed as references to both the probate court	564
and the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and	565
all references in law to the probate judge shall be construed as	566
references to both the probate judge and the judges of the court	567
of common pleas, division of domestic relations. On and after	568
February 9, 2009, with respect to Lorain county, all references in	569
law to the probate court shall be construed as references to the	570
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and all	571
references to the probate judge shall be construed as references	572
to the judges of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	573
relations.	574

(b) On and after February 9, 2009, with respect to Lorain	575
county, all references in law to the clerk of the probate court	576
shall be construed as references to the judge who is serving	577
pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts	578
of Ohio as the administrative judge of the court of common pleas,	579
division of domestic relations.	580

(D) In Lucas county:

581

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	582
on January 1, 1955, and January 3, 1965, and successors, shall	583
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	584
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	585
the court of common pleas of Lucas county and shall be elected and	586
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	587
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	588
separation, and annulment cases shall be assigned to them.	589

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	590
point of service, shall be considered as the presiding judge of	591
the court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, and	592
shall be charged exclusively with the assignment and division of	593
the work of the division and the employment and supervision of all	594
other personnel of the domestic relations division.	595

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	596
on January 5, 1977, and January 2, 1991, and successors shall have	597
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	598
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	599
the court of common pleas of Lucas county, shall be elected and	600
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	601
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	602
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and	603
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. In addition to the	604
judge's regular duties, the judge of the court of common pleas,	605
juvenile division, senior in point of service, shall be the	606
administrator of the juvenile division and its subdivisions and	607
departments and shall have charge of the employment, assignment,	608
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in	609
handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including	610
any referees considered necessary by the judges of the division in	611
the discharge of their various duties.	612

The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division,	613
senior in point of service, also shall designate the title,	614
compensation, expense allowance, hours, leaves of absence, and	615
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix the duties	616
of the personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	617
addition to other statutory duties include the handling,	618
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and	619
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	620
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	621
action pending in the division.	622

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas,	623
division of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the	624
juvenile division is sick, absent, or unable to perform that	625
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in that	626
judge's division necessitates it, the duties shall be performed by	627
the judges of the other of those divisions.	628

(E) In Mahoning county:

629

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began	630
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same	631
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	632
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	633
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated	634
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	635
relations, and shall be assigned all the divorce, dissolution of	636
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	637
court. In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	638
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be	639
the administrator of the domestic relations division and its	640
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	641
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	642
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	643
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	644
including any referees considered necessary in the discharge of	645
the various duties of the judge's office.	646

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	647
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	648
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	649
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	650
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	651
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	652
legal separation, and annulment cases and counseling and	653
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	654
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	655
action pending in the division.	656

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term began	657
on January 2, 1969, and successors, shall have the same	658
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	659
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	660
common pleas of Mahoning county, shall be elected and designated	661
as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and	662
shall be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and	663
2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions	664
conferred by those chapters. In addition to the judge's regular	665
duties, the judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division,	666
shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and its	667
subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	668
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	669
division engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile	670
cases, including any referees considered necessary by the judge in	671
the discharge of the judge's various duties.	672

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	673
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	674
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	675
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	676
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	677
servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and counseling and	678
conciliation services that may be made available to persons	679
requesting them, whether or not the persons are parties to an	680
action pending in the division.	681

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	682
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	683
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties, or the volume of	684
cases pending in that judge's division necessitates it, that	685
judge's duties shall be performed by another judge of the court of	686
common pleas.	687

(F) In Montgomery county:

688

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	689
on January 2, 1953, and January 4, 1977, and successors, shall	690
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	691
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	692
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county and shall be	693
elected and designated as judges of the court of common pleas,	694
division of domestic relations. These judges shall have assigned	695
to them all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation,	696
and annulment cases.	697

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	698
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the assignment	699
and division of the work of the division and shall have charge of	700
the employment and supervision of the personnel of the division	701
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	702
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	703
including any necessary referees, except those employees who may	704
be appointed by the judge, junior in point of service, under this	705
section and sections 2301.12, 2301.18, and 2301.19 of the Revised	706
Code. The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	707
point of service, also shall designate the title, compensation,	708
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	709
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties.	710

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	711
on January 1, 1953, and January 1, 1993, and successors, shall	712
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	713
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	714
the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, shall be elected	715
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	716
division, and shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of,	717
the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	718
Revised Code.	719

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	720
court of common pleas, juvenile division, senior in point of	721
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	722
its subdivisions and departments and shall have charge of the	723
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	724
juvenile division, including any necessary referees, who are	725
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases.	726
The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate the	727
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	728
and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	729
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	730
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	731
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and	732
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons,	733
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the	734
division.	735

If one of the judges of the court of common pleas, division	736
of domestic relations, or one of the judges of the court of common	737
pleas, juvenile division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform	738
that judge's duties or the volume of cases pending in that judge's	739
division necessitates it, the duties of that judge may be	740
performed by the judge or judges of the other of those divisions.	741

(G) In Richland county:

742

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	743
on January 1, 1957, and successors, shall have the same	744
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	745
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	746
common pleas of Richland county and shall be elected and	747
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	748
domestic relations. That judge shall be assigned and hear all	749
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	750
cases, all domestic violence cases arising under section 3113.31	751
of the Revised Code, and all post-decree proceedings arising from	752
any case pertaining to any of those matters. The division of	753
domestic relations has concurrent jurisdiction with the juvenile	754
division of the court of common pleas of Richland county to	755
determine the care, custody, or control of any child not a ward of	756
another court of this state, and to hear and determine a request	757
for an order for the support of any child if the request is not	758
ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution of marriage,	759
annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil action	760
involving an allegation of domestic violence, or an action for	761
support brought under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code. Except in	762
cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction of	763
the juvenile court, the judge of the division of domestic	764
relations shall be assigned and hear all cases pertaining to	765
paternity or parentage, the care, custody, or control of children,	766
parenting time or visitation, child support, or the allocation of	767
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children, all	768
proceedings arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all	769
proceedings arising under the uniform interstate family support	770
act contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, and all	771
post-decree proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of	772
those matters.	773

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	774
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations, shall be	775
the administrator of the domestic relations division and its	776
subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of the	777
employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of the	778
domestic relations division, including any magistrates the judge	779
considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's duties. The	780
judge shall also designate the title, compensation, expense	781
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, vacation, and other	782
employment-related matters of the personnel of the division and	783
shall fix their duties.	784

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	785
on January 3, 2005, and successors, shall have the same	786
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	787
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	788
common pleas of Richland county, shall be elected and designated	789
as judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and	790
shall be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile	791
judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code.	792
Except in cases that are subject to the exclusive original	793
jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile	794
division shall not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and	795
shall not be assigned, any case pertaining to paternity or	796
parentage, the care, custody, or control of children, parenting	797
time or visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental	798
rights and responsibilities for the care of children or any	799
post-decree proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of	800
those matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have	801
jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any	802
proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act	803
contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.	804

In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of the	805
juvenile division shall be the administrator of the juvenile	806
division and its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall	807
have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	808
personnel of the juvenile division who are engaged in handling,	809
servicing, or investigating juvenile cases, including any	810
magistrates whom the judge considers necessary for the discharge	811
of the judge's various duties.	812

The judge of the juvenile division also shall designate the	813
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	814
and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	815
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	816
statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and	817
investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling,	818
conciliation, and mediation services that the court makes	819
available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an	820
action pending in the court, who request the services.	821

(H) In Stark county, the judges of the court of common pleas	822
whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, January 2, 1959, and January	823
1, 1993, and successors, shall have the same qualifications,	824
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	825
compensation as other judges of the court of common pleas of Stark	826
county and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court	827
of common pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have	828
all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under	829
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage	830
proceedings over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and	831
all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and	832
annulment cases, except cases that are assigned to some other	833
judge of the court of common pleas for some special reason, shall	834
be assigned to the judges.	835

The judge of the division of domestic relations, second most	836
senior in point of service, shall have charge of the employment	837
and supervision of the personnel of the division engaged in	838
handling, servicing, or investigating divorce, dissolution of	839
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, and necessary	840
referees required for the judge's respective court.	841

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	842
point of service, shall be charged exclusively with the	843
administration of sections 2151.13, 2151.16, 2151.17, and 2152.71	844
of the Revised Code and with the assignment and division of the	845
work of the division and the employment and supervision of all	846
other personnel of the division, including, but not limited to,	847
that judge's necessary referees, but excepting those employees who	848
may be appointed by the judge second most senior in point of	849
service. The senior judge further shall serve in every other	850
position in which the statutes permit or require a juvenile judge	851
to serve.	852

(I) In Summit county:

853

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	854
on January 4, 1967, and January 6, 1993, and successors, shall	855
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	856
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	857
the court of common pleas of Summit county and shall be elected	858
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	859
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic	860
relations shall have assigned to them and hear all divorce,	861
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	862
that come before the court. Except in cases that are subject to	863
the exclusive original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the	864
judges of the division of domestic relations shall have assigned	865
to them and hear all cases pertaining to paternity, custody,	866
visitation, child support, or the allocation of parental rights	867
and responsibilities for the care of children and all post-decree	868
proceedings arising from any case pertaining to any of those	869
matters. The judges of the division of domestic relations shall	870
have assigned to them and hear all proceedings under the uniform	871
interstate family support act contained in Chapter 3115. of the	872
Revised Code.	873

The judge of the division of domestic relations, senior in	874
point of service, shall be the administrator of the domestic	875
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and shall	876
have charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	877
personnel of the division, including any necessary referees, who	878
are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	879
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases.	880
That judge also shall designate the title, compensation, expense	881
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	882
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	883
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	884
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	885
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	886
of any counseling and conciliation services that are available	887
upon request to all persons, whether or not they are parties to an	888
action pending in the division.	889

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	890
on January 1, 1955, and successors, shall have the same	891
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	892
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	893
common pleas of Summit county, shall be elected and designated as	894
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall	895
be, and have the powers and jurisdiction of, the juvenile judge as	896
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code. Except	897
in cases that are subject to the exclusive original jurisdiction	898
of the juvenile court, the judge of the juvenile division shall	899
not have jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be	900
assigned, any case pertaining to paternity, custody, visitation,	901
child support, or the allocation of parental rights and	902
responsibilities for the care of children or any post-decree	903
proceeding arising from any case pertaining to any of those	904
matters. The judge of the juvenile division shall not have	905
jurisdiction or the power to hear, and shall not be assigned, any	906
proceeding under the uniform interstate family support act	907
contained in Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code.	908

The juvenile judge shall be the administrator of the juvenile	909
division and its subdivisions and departments and shall have	910
charge of the employment, assignment, and supervision of the	911
personnel of the juvenile division, including any necessary	912
referees, who are engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating	913
juvenile cases. The judge also shall designate the title,	914
compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and	915
vacation of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	916
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	917
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	918
investigation of juvenile cases and of any counseling and	919
conciliation services that are available upon request to persons,	920
whether or not they are parties to an action pending in the	921
division.	922

(J) In Trumbull county, the judges of the court of common	923
pleas whose terms begin on January 1, 1953, and January 2, 1977,	924
and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the	925
same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	926
other judges of the court of common pleas of Trumbull county and	927
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common	928
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the	929
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters	930
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings	931
over which the juvenile court has jurisdiction, and all divorce,	932
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	933
shall be assigned to them, except cases that for some special	934
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	935
pleas.	936

(K) In Butler county:

937

(1) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	938
on January 1, 1957, and January 4, 1993, and successors, shall	939
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	940
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	941
the court of common pleas of Butler county and shall be elected	942
and designated as judges of the court of common pleas, division of	943
domestic relations. The judges of the division of domestic	944
relations shall have assigned to them all divorce, dissolution of	945
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	946
court, except in cases that for some special reason are assigned	947
to some other judge of the court of common pleas. The judge senior	948
in point of service shall be charged with the assignment and	949
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	950
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	951
division.	952

The judge senior in point of service also shall designate the	953
title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence,	954
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	955
duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to other	956
statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing, and	957
investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	958
separation, and annulment cases and providing any counseling and	959
conciliation services that the division makes available to	960
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	961
pending in the division, who request the services.	962

(2) The judges of the court of common pleas whose terms begin	963
on January 3, 1987, and January 2, 2003, and successors, shall	964
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	965
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	966
the court of common pleas of Butler county, shall be elected and	967
designated as judges of the court of common pleas, juvenile	968
division, and shall be the juvenile judges as provided in Chapters	969
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, with the powers and	970
jurisdictions conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court	971
of common pleas, juvenile division, who is senior in point of	972
service, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	973
its subdivisions and departments. The judge, senior in point of	974
service, shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and	975
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are	976
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases,	977
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the	978
discharge of the judge's various duties.	979

The judge, senior in point of service, also shall designate	980
the title, compensation, expense allowances, hours, leaves of	981
absence, and vacation of the personnel of the division and shall	982
fix their duties. The duties of the personnel, in addition to	983
other statutory duties, include the handling, servicing, and	984
investigation of juvenile cases and providing any counseling and	985
conciliation services that the division makes available to	986
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	987
pending in the division, who request the services.	988

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	989
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	990
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of	991
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties	992
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the	993
domestic relations and juvenile divisions.	994

(L)(1) In Cuyahoga county, the judges of the court of common	995
pleas whose terms begin on January 8, 1961, January 9, 1961,	996
January 18, 1975, January 19, 1975, and January 13, 1987, and	997
successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	998
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	999
other judges of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county and	1000
shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of common	1001
pleas, division of domestic relations. They shall have all the	1002
powers relating to all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1003
separation, and annulment cases, except in cases that are assigned	1004
to some other judge of the court of common pleas for some special	1005
reason.	1006

(2) The administrative judge is administrator of the domestic	1007
relations division and its subdivisions and departments and has	1008
the following powers concerning division personnel:	1009

(a) Full charge of the employment, assignment, and	1010
supervision;	1011

(b) Sole determination of compensation, duties, expenses,	1012
allowances, hours, leaves, and vacations.	1013

(3) "Division personnel" include persons employed or referees	1014
engaged in hearing, servicing, investigating, counseling, or	1015
conciliating divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation	1016
and annulment matters.	1017

(M) In Lake county:

1018

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1019
on January 2, 1961, and successors, shall have the same	1020
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1021
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	1022
common pleas of Lake county and shall be elected and designated as	1023
judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1024
relations. The judge shall be assigned all the divorce,	1025
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	1026
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special	1027
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	1028
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	1029
of the work of the division and with the employment and	1030
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1031
division.	1032

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1033
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1034
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1035
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1036
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1037
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1038
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1039
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1040
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1041
services.	1042

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1043
on January 4, 1979, and successors, shall have the same	1044
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1045
receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1046
common pleas of Lake county, shall be elected and designated as	1047
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and shall	1048
be the juvenile judge as provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	1049
the Revised Code, with the powers and jurisdictions conferred by	1050
those chapters. The judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile	1051
division, shall be the administrator of the juvenile division and	1052
its subdivisions and departments. The judge shall have charge of	1053
the employment, assignment, and supervision of the personnel of	1054
the juvenile division who are engaged in handling, servicing, or	1055
investigating juvenile cases, including any referees whom the	1056
judge considers necessary for the discharge of the judge's various	1057
duties.	1058

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1059
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	1060
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1061
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include	1062
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and	1063
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1064
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1065
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1066
services.	1067

(3) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1068
domestic relations or juvenile division, is sick, absent, or	1069
unable to perform that judge's judicial duties or the volume of	1070
cases pending in the judge's division necessitates it, the duties	1071
of that judge shall be performed by the other judges of the	1072
domestic relations and juvenile divisions.	1073

(N) In Erie county:

1074

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1075
on January 2, 1971, and the successors to that judge whose terms	1076
begin before January 2, 2007, shall have the same qualifications,	1077
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	1078
compensation as the other judge of the court of common pleas of	1079
Erie county and shall be elected and designated as judge of the	1080
court of common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge	1081
shall have all the powers relating to juvenile courts, and shall	1082
be assigned all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the	1083
Revised Code, parentage proceedings over which the juvenile court	1084
has jurisdiction, and divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1085
separation, and annulment cases, except cases that for some	1086
special reason are assigned to some other judge.	1087

On or after January 2, 2007, the judge of the court of common	1088
pleas who is elected in 2006 shall be the successor to the judge	1089
of the domestic relations division whose term expires on January	1090
1, 2007, shall be designated as judge of the court of common	1091
pleas, juvenile division, and shall be the juvenile judge as	1092
provided in Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the	1093
powers and jurisdictions conferred by those chapters.	1094

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas, general division,	1095
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, the judge of	1096
the court of common pleas, general division whose term begins on	1097
January 2, 2005, and successors, and the judge of the court of	1098
common pleas, general division, whose term begins February 9,	1099
2009, and successors, shall have assigned to them, in addition to	1100
all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the general	1101
division of the court of common pleas, all divorce, dissolution of	1102
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	1103
court, and all matters that are within the jurisdiction of the	1104
probate court under Chapter 2101., and other provisions, of the	1105
Revised Code.	1106

(O) In Greene county:

1107

(1) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1108
on January 1, 1961, and successors, shall have the same	1109
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1110
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	1111
common pleas of Greene county and shall be elected and designated	1112
as the judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1113
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1114
marriage, legal separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support	1115
enforcement, and domestic violence cases and all other cases	1116
related to domestic relations, except cases that for some special	1117
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	1118
pleas.	1119

The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	1120
of the work of the division and with the employment and	1121
supervision of all other personnel of the division. The judge also	1122
shall designate the title, compensation, hours, leaves of absence,	1123
and vacations of the personnel of the division and shall fix their	1124
duties. The duties of the personnel of the division, in addition	1125
to other statutory duties, shall include the handling, servicing,	1126
and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1127
separation, and annulment cases and the provision of counseling	1128
and conciliation services that the division considers necessary	1129
and makes available to persons who request the services, whether	1130
or not the persons are parties in an action pending in the	1131
division. The compensation for the personnel shall be paid from	1132
the overall court budget and shall be included in the	1133
appropriations for the existing judges of the general division of	1134
the court of common pleas.	1135

(2) The judge of the court of common pleas whose term begins	1136
on January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the same	1137
qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and	1138
receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court of	1139
common pleas of Greene county, shall be elected and designated as	1140
judge of the court of common pleas, juvenile division, and, on or	1141
after January 1, 1995, shall be the juvenile judge as provided in	1142
Chapters 2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code with the powers and	1143
jurisdiction conferred by those chapters. The judge of the court	1144
of common pleas, juvenile division, shall be the administrator of	1145
the juvenile division and its subdivisions and departments. The	1146
judge shall have charge of the employment, assignment, and	1147
supervision of the personnel of the juvenile division who are	1148
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating juvenile cases,	1149
including any referees whom the judge considers necessary for the	1150
discharge of the judge's various duties.	1151

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1152
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacation of the	1153
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1154
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, include	1155
the handling, servicing, and investigation of juvenile cases and	1156
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the court	1157
makes available to persons, whether or not the persons are parties	1158
to an action pending in the court, who request the services.	1159

(3) If one of the judges of the court of common pleas,	1160
general division, is sick, absent, or unable to perform that	1161
judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the	1162
general division necessitates it, the duties of that judge of the	1163
general division shall be performed by the judge of the division	1164
of domestic relations and the judge of the juvenile division.	1165

(P) In Portage county, the judge of the court of common	1166
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall	1167
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1168
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1169
judges of the court of common pleas of Portage county and shall be	1170
elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1171
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1172
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1173
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some	1174
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	1175
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and	1176
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	1177
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1178
division.	1179

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1180
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1181
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1182
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1183
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1184
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1185
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1186
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1187
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1188
services.	1189

(Q) In Clermont county, the judge of the court of common	1190
pleas, whose term begins January 2, 1987, and successors, shall	1191
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1192
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1193
judges of the court of common pleas of Clermont county and shall	1194
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1195
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1196
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1197
cases coming before the court, except in cases that for some	1198
special reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of	1199
common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and	1200
division of the work of the division and with the employment and	1201
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1202
division.	1203

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1204
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1205
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1206
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1207
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1208
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1209
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1210
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1211
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1212
services.	1213

(R) In Warren county, the judge of the court of common pleas,	1214
whose term begins January 1, 1987, and successors, shall have the	1215
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1216
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court	1217
of common pleas of Warren county and shall be elected and	1218
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1219
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce,	1220
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases	1221
coming before the court, except in cases that for some special	1222
reason are assigned to some other judge of the court of common	1223
pleas. The judge shall be charged with the assignment and division	1224
of the work of the division and with the employment and	1225
supervision of all other personnel of the domestic relations	1226
division.	1227

The judge also shall designate the title, compensation,	1228
expense allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1229
personnel of the division and shall fix their duties. The duties	1230
of the personnel, in addition to other statutory duties, shall	1231
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce,	1232
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases and	1233
providing any counseling and conciliation services that the	1234
division makes available to persons, whether or not the persons	1235
are parties to an action pending in the division, who request the	1236
services.	1237

(S) In Licking county, the judges of the court of common	1238
pleas, whose terms begin on January 1, 1991, and January 1, 2005,	1239
and successors, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the	1240
same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as	1241
the other judges of the court of common pleas of Licking county	1242
and shall be elected and designated as judges of the court of	1243
common pleas, division of domestic relations. The judges shall be	1244
assigned all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation,	1245
and annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1246
Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the	1247
allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of	1248
children and the designation for the children of a place of	1249
residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and	1250
all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases	1251
and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are	1252
assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The	1253
administrative judge of the division of domestic relations shall	1254
be charged with the assignment and division of the work of the	1255
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel	1256
of the division.	1257

The administrative judge of the division of domestic	1258
relations shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1259
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1260
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1261
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1262
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1263
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1264
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1265
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1266
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1267
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1268
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1269
parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and	1270
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1271
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	1272
pending in the division, who request the services.	1273

(T) In Allen county, the judge of the court of common pleas,	1274
whose term begins January 1, 1993, and successors, shall have the	1275
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1276
and receive the same compensation as the other judges of the court	1277
of common pleas of Allen county and shall be elected and	1278
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1279
domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce,	1280
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1281
all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all	1282
proceedings involving child support, the allocation of parental	1283
rights and responsibilities for the care of children and the	1284
designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	1285
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	1286
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	1287
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	1288
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be	1289
charged with the assignment and division of the work of the	1290
division and with the employment and supervision of the personnel	1291
of the division.	1292

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1293
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1294
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1295
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1296
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1297
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1298
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1299
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1300
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1301
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1302
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1303
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and	1304
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1305
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	1306
pending in the division, who request the services.	1307

(U) In Medina county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1308
whose term begins January 1, 1995, and successors, shall have the	1309
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1310
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1311
common pleas of Medina county and shall be elected and designated	1312
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1313
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1314
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising	1315
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving	1316
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1317
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1318
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1319
parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings	1320
and matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in	1321
cases that for some special reason are assigned to another judge	1322
of the court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the	1323
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the	1324
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.	1325

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1326
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1327
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1328
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1329
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	1330
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	1331
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter	1332
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child	1333
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1334
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1335
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1336
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services	1337
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the	1338
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who	1339
request the services.	1340

(V) In Fairfield county, the judge of the court of common	1341
pleas whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall	1342
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1343
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1344
judges of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and shall	1345
be elected and designated as judge of the court of common pleas,	1346
division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned all	1347
divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment	1348
cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code,	1349
all proceedings involving child support, the allocation of	1350
parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children and	1351
the designation for the children of a place of residence and legal	1352
custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree	1353
proceedings and matters arising from those cases and proceedings,	1354
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to	1355
another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge also has	1356
concurrent jurisdiction with the probate-juvenile division of the	1357
court of common pleas of Fairfield county with respect to and may	1358
hear cases to determine the custody of a child, as defined in	1359
section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of	1360
another court of this state, cases that are commenced by a parent,	1361
guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section 2151.011	1362
of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a parent of the	1363
child to pay child support for that child when the request for	1364
that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce, dissolution	1365
of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a criminal or civil	1366
action involving an allegation of domestic violence, an action for	1367
support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised Code, or an action that	1368
is within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the	1369
probate-juvenile division of the court of common pleas of	1370
Fairfield county and that involves an allegation that the child is	1371
an abused, neglected, or dependent child, and post-decree	1372
proceedings and matters arising from those types of cases.	1373

The judge of the domestic relations division shall be charged	1374
with the assignment and division of the work of the division and	1375
with the employment and supervision of the personnel of the	1376
division.	1377

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1378
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1379
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1380
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1381
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1382
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1383
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1384
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1385
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1386
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1387
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1388
parenting time, and visitation, and providing any counseling and	1389
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1390
persons, regardless of whether the persons are parties to an	1391
action pending in the division, who request the services. When the	1392
judge hears a case to determine the custody of a child, as defined	1393
in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, who is not the ward of	1394
another court of this state or a case that is commenced by a	1395
parent, guardian, or custodian of a child, as defined in section	1396
2151.011 of the Revised Code, to obtain an order requiring a	1397
parent of the child to pay child support for that child when the	1398
request for that order is not ancillary to an action for divorce,	1399
dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal separation, a	1400
criminal or civil action involving an allegation of domestic	1401
violence, an action for support under Chapter 3115. of the Revised	1402
Code, or an action that is within the exclusive original	1403
jurisdiction of the probate-juvenile division of the court of	1404
common pleas of Fairfield county and that involves an allegation	1405
that the child is an abused, neglected, or dependent child, the	1406
duties of the personnel of the domestic relations division also	1407
include the handling, servicing, and investigation of those types	1408
of cases.	1409

(W)(1) In Clark county, the judge of the court of common	1410
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 1995, and successors, shall	1411
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1412
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as other judges of	1413
the court of common pleas of Clark county and shall be elected and	1414
designated as judge of the court of common pleas, domestic	1415
relations division. The judge shall have all the powers relating	1416
to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152.	1417
of the Revised Code and all parentage proceedings under Chapter	1418
3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court has	1419
jurisdiction shall be assigned to the judge of the division of	1420
domestic relations. All divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1421
separation, annulment, uniform reciprocal support enforcement, and	1422
other cases related to domestic relations shall be assigned to the	1423
domestic relations division, and the presiding judge of the court	1424
of common pleas shall assign the cases to the judge of the	1425
domestic relations division and the judges of the general	1426
division.	1427

(2) In addition to the judge's regular duties, the judge of	1428
the division of domestic relations shall serve on the children	1429
services board and the county advisory board.	1430

(3) If the judge of the court of common pleas of Clark	1431
county, division of domestic relations, is sick, absent, or unable	1432
to perform that judge's judicial duties or if the presiding judge	1433
of the court of common pleas of Clark county determines that the	1434
volume of cases pending in the division of domestic relations	1435
necessitates it, the duties of the judge of the division of	1436
domestic relations shall be performed by the judges of the general	1437
division or probate division of the court of common pleas of Clark	1438
county, as assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of	1439
that court, and the judges so assigned shall act in conjunction	1440
with the judge of the division of domestic relations of that	1441
court.	1442

(X) In Scioto county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1443
whose term begins January 2, 1995, and successors, shall have the	1444
same qualifications, exercise the same powers and jurisdiction,	1445
and receive the same compensation as other judges of the court of	1446
common pleas of Scioto county and shall be elected and designated	1447
as judge of the court of common pleas, division of domestic	1448
relations. The judge shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1449
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all cases arising	1450
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all proceedings involving	1451
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1452
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1453
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1454
parenting time, visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and	1455
matters arising from those cases and proceedings, except in cases	1456
that for some special reason are assigned to another judge of the	1457
court of common pleas. The judge shall be charged with the	1458
assignment and division of the work of the division and with the	1459
employment and supervision of the personnel of the division.	1460

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1461
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1462
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1463
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel, in	1464
addition to other statutory duties, include the handling,	1465
servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of marriage,	1466
legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising under Chapter	1467
3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving child	1468
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1469
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1470
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1471
visitation, and providing counseling and conciliation services	1472
that the division makes available to persons, whether or not the	1473
persons are parties to an action pending in the division, who	1474
request the services.	1475

(Y) In Auglaize county, the judge of the probate and juvenile	1476
divisions of the Auglaize county court of common pleas also shall	1477
be the administrative judge of the domestic relations division of	1478
the court and shall be assigned all divorce, dissolution of	1479
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases coming before the	1480
court. The judge shall have all powers as administrator of the	1481
domestic relations division and shall have charge of the personnel	1482
engaged in handling, servicing, or investigating divorce,	1483
dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases,	1484
including any referees considered necessary for the discharge of	1485
the judge's various duties.	1486

(Z)(1) In Marion county, the judge of the court of common	1487
pleas whose term begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to	1488
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	1489
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the	1490
other judges of the court of common pleas of Marion county and	1491
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common	1492
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as	1493
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the	1494
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to	1495
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	1496
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1497
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1498
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1499
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1500
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1501
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1502
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1503
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge	1504
and the successors to that judge. Except as provided in division	1505
(Z)(2) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of	1506
any section of the Revised Code, on and after February 9, 2003,	1507
the judge of the court of common pleas of Marion county whose term	1508
begins on February 9, 1999, and the successors to that judge,	1509
shall have all the powers relating to the probate division of the	1510
court of common pleas of Marion county in addition to the powers	1511
previously specified in this division, and shall exercise	1512
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of	1513
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	1514
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other	1515
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of	1516
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court	1517
otherwise specified in division (Z)(1) of this section.	1518

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	1519
division of the court of common pleas of Marion county or the	1520
judge of the probate division of the court of common pleas of	1521
Marion county, whichever of those judges is senior in total length	1522
of service on the court of common pleas of Marion county,	1523
regardless of the division or divisions of service, shall serve as	1524
the clerk of the probate division of the court of common pleas of	1525
Marion county.	1526

(3) On and after February 9, 2003, all references in law to	1527
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	1528
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect	1529
to Marion county, as being references to both "the probate	1530
division" and "the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division"	1531
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate	1532
division" and "the judge of the domestic relations-	1533
juvenile-probate division." On and after February 9, 2003, all	1534
references in law to "the clerk of the probate court" shall be	1535
construed, with respect to Marion county, as being references to	1536
the judge who is serving pursuant to division (Z)(2) of this	1537
section as the clerk of the probate division of the court of	1538
common pleas of Marion county.	1539

(AA) In Muskingum county, the judge of the court of common	1540
pleas whose term begins on January 2, 2003, and successors, shall	1541
have the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1542
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other	1543
judges of the court of common pleas of Muskingum county and shall	1544
be elected and designated as the judge of the court of common	1545
pleas, division of domestic relations. The judge shall be assigned	1546
all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and	1547
annulment cases, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1548
Revised Code, all proceedings involving child support, the	1549
allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of	1550
children and the designation for the children of a place of	1551
residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and visitation, and	1552
all post-decree proceedings and matters arising from those cases	1553
and proceedings, except in cases that for some special reason are	1554
assigned to another judge of the court of common pleas. The judge	1555
shall be charged with the assignment and division of the work of	1556
the division and with the employment and supervision of the	1557
personnel of the division.	1558

The judge shall designate the title, compensation, expense	1559
allowances, hours, leaves of absence, and vacations of the	1560
personnel of the division and shall fix the duties of the	1561
personnel of the division. The duties of the personnel of the	1562
division, in addition to other statutory duties, shall include the	1563
handling, servicing, and investigation of divorce, dissolution of	1564
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, cases arising	1565
under Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, and proceedings involving	1566
child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1567
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1568
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1569
parenting time, and visitation and providing any counseling and	1570
conciliation services that the division makes available to	1571
persons, whether or not the persons are parties to an action	1572
pending in the division, who request the services.	1573

(BB) In Henry county, the judge of the court of common pleas	1574
whose term begins on January 1, 2005, and successors, shall have	1575
the same qualifications, exercise the same powers and	1576
jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the other judge	1577
of the court of common pleas of Henry county and shall be elected	1578
and designated as the judge of the court of common pleas, division	1579
of domestic relations. The judge shall have all of the powers	1580
relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapter 2151. or	1581
2152. of the Revised Code, all parentage proceedings arising under	1582
Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code over which the juvenile court	1583
has jurisdiction, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1584
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1585
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1586
for the care of children and the designation for the children of a	1587
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1588
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1589
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge,	1590
except in cases that for some special reason are assigned to the	1591
other judge of the court of common pleas.	1592

(CC)(1) In Logan county, the judge of the court of common	1593
pleas whose term begins January 2, 2005, and the successors to	1594
that judge, shall have the same qualifications, exercise the same	1595
powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same compensation as the	1596
other judges of the court of common pleas of Logan county and	1597
shall be elected and designated as judge of the court of common	1598
pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division. Except as	1599
otherwise specified in this division, that judge, and the	1600
successors to that judge, shall have all the powers relating to	1601
juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters 2151. and 2152. of	1602
the Revised Code, all cases arising under Chapter 3111. of the	1603
Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal	1604
separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings involving child	1605
support, the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities	1606
for the care of children and designation for the children of a	1607
place of residence and legal custodian, parenting time, and	1608
visitation, and all post-decree proceedings and matters arising	1609
from those cases and proceedings shall be assigned to that judge	1610
and the successors to that judge. Notwithstanding any other	1611
provision of any section of the Revised Code, on and after January	1612
2, 2005, the judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county	1613
whose term begins on January 2, 2005, and the successors to that	1614
judge, shall have all the powers relating to the probate division	1615
of the court of common pleas of Logan county in addition to the	1616
powers previously specified in this division and shall exercise	1617
concurrent jurisdiction with the judge of the probate division of	1618
that court over all matters that are within the jurisdiction of	1619
the probate division of that court under Chapter 2101., and other	1620
provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to the jurisdiction of	1621
the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division of that court	1622
otherwise specified in division (CC)(1) of this section.	1623

(2) The judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	1624
division of the court of common pleas of Logan county or the	1625
probate judge of the court of common pleas of Logan county who is	1626
elected as the administrative judge of the probate division of the	1627
court of common pleas of Logan county pursuant to Rule 4 of the	1628
Rules of Superintendence shall be the clerk of the probate	1629
division and juvenile division of the court of common pleas of	1630
Logan county. The clerk of the court of common pleas who is	1631
elected pursuant to section 2303.01 of the Revised Code shall keep	1632
all of the journals, records, books, papers, and files pertaining	1633
to the domestic relations cases.	1634

(3) On and after January 2, 2005, all references in law to	1635
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	1636
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed, with respect	1637
to Logan county, as being references to both "the probate	1638
division" and the "domestic relations-juvenile-probate division"	1639
and as being references to both "the judge of the probate	1640
division" and the "judge of the domestic	1641
relations-juvenile-probate division." On and after January 2,	1642
2005, all references in law to "the clerk of the probate court"	1643
shall be construed, with respect to Logan county, as being	1644
references to the judge who is serving pursuant to division	1645
(CC)(2) of this section as the clerk of the probate division of	1646
the court of common pleas of Logan county.	1647

(DD)(1) In Champaign county, the judge of the court of common	1648
pleas whose term begins February 9, 2003, and the judge of the	1649
court of common pleas whose term begins February 10, 2009, and the	1650
successors to those judges, shall have the same qualifications,	1651
exercise the same powers and jurisdiction, and receive the same	1652
compensation as the other judges of the court of common pleas of	1653
Champaign county and shall be elected and designated as judges of	1654
the court of common pleas, domestic relations-juvenile-probate	1655
division. Except as otherwise specified in this division, those	1656
judges, and the successors to those judges, shall have all the	1657
powers relating to juvenile courts, and all cases under Chapters	1658
2151. and 2152. of the Revised Code, all cases arising under	1659
Chapter 3111. of the Revised Code, all divorce, dissolution of	1660
marriage, legal separation, and annulment cases, all proceedings	1661
involving child support, the allocation of parental rights and	1662
responsibilities for the care of children and the designation for	1663
the children of a place of residence and legal custodian,	1664
parenting time, and visitation, and all post-decree proceedings	1665
and matters arising from those cases and proceedings shall be	1666
assigned to those judges and the successors to those judges.	1667
Notwithstanding any other provision of any section of the Revised	1668
Code, on and after February 9, 2009, the judges designated by this	1669
division as judges of the court of common pleas of Champaign	1670
county, domestic relations-juvenile-probate division, and the	1671
successors to those judges, shall have all the powers relating to	1672
probate courts in addition to the powers previously specified in	1673
this division and shall exercise jurisdiction over all matters	1674
that are within the jurisdiction of probate courts under Chapter	1675
2101., and other provisions, of the Revised Code in addition to	1676
the jurisdiction of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate	1677
division otherwise specified in division (DD)(1) of this section.	1678

(2) On and after February 9, 2009, all references in law to	1679
"the probate court," "the probate judge," "the juvenile court," or	1680
"the judge of the juvenile court" shall be construed with respect	1681
to Champaign county as being references to the "domestic	1682
relations-juvenile-probate division" and as being references to	1683
the "judge of the domestic relations-juvenile-probate division."	1684
On and after February 9, 2009, all references in law to "the clerk	1685
of the probate court" shall be construed with respect to Champaign	1686
county as being references to the judge who is serving pursuant to	1687
Rule 4 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio as	1688
the administrative judge of the court of common pleas, domestic	1689
relations-juvenile-probate division.	1690

(EE) If a judge of the court of common pleas, division of	1691
domestic relations, or juvenile judge, of any of the counties	1692
mentioned in this section is sick, absent, or unable to perform	1693
that judge's judicial duties or the volume of cases pending in the	1694
judge's division necessitates it, the duties of that judge shall	1695
be performed by another judge of the court of common pleas of that	1696
county, assigned for that purpose by the presiding judge of the	1697
court of common pleas of that county to act in place of or in	1698
conjunction with that judge, as the case may require.	1699

Section 2. That existing sections 2151.07, 2301.02, and	1700
2301.03 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.	1701

Section 3. That Section 6 of Sub. H.B. 336 of the 126th	1702
General Assembly be amended to read as follows:	1703

Sec. 6. (A) There is hereby created the Joint Committee to	1704
Study Court Costs and Filing Fees consisting of the following	1705
seventeen members:	1706

(1) Three members of the House of Representatives appointed	1707
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of the members	1708
representing the House Majority Caucus and one member representing	1709
the House Minority Caucus;	1710

(2) Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of	1711
the Senate, two members representing the Senate Majority Caucus	1712
and one member representing the Senate Minority Caucus;	1713

(3) One judge of a court of common pleas and one municipal	1714
court judge each appointed by the Chief Justice of the Ohio	1715
Supreme Court;	1716

(4) Two clerks of court appointed by the Chief Justice of the	1717
Ohio Supreme Court;	1718

(5) Two court administrators appointed by the Chief Justice	1719
of the Ohio Supreme Court;	1720

(6) The Administrative Director of the Ohio Supreme Court;

1721

(7) One member of a state or county bar association appointed	1722
by the Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court;	1723

(8) One county commissioner and one member of the Ohio	1724
Municipal League each jointly appointed by the Speaker of the	1725
House of Representatives and the President of the Senate;	1726

(9) One individual to represent the public jointly appointed	1727
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President	1728
of the Senate.	1729

(B)(1) The appointments to the Committee shall be made not	1730
later than ninety days after the effective date of this act.	1731
Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled in the manner provided	1732
for the original appointments.	1733

(2) Two members of the Committee shall be designated to serve	1734
as co-chairpersons. The Speaker of the House of Representatives	1735
and the President of the Senate shall jointly designate one	1736
co-chairperson. The Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court shall	1737
designate one co-chairperson.	1738

(3) The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to carry	1739
out the Committee's official duties. The members of the Committee	1740
shall serve without compensation. The staff of the Legislative	1741
Service Commission and the employees of the Ohio Supreme Court	1742
shall provide staff support for the Committee.	1743

(C) The Committee shall study the determination, assessment,	1744
collection, and allocation of court costs and filing fees in	1745
criminal actions and in civil actions and proceedings in this	1746
state, including the amount of court costs and filing fees paid by	1747
the parties to civil actions and proceedings or by defendants in	1748
criminal actions. The Committee also shall review and study where	1749
the money collected is deposited. Based on the Committee's	1750
findings, the Committee shall prepare recommendations for any	1751
changes that the Committee believes need to be made to the current	1752
system for court costs and filing fees.	1753

(D) The Committee shall submit written findings and	1754
recommendations not later than one year and six months after the	1755
effective date of this act to the justices and Chief Justice of	1756
the Ohio Supreme Court, the General Assembly, and the Governor.	1757
On the Committee's submission of its written findings and	1758
recommendations, the Committee shall cease to exist.	1759

(E) All meetings of the Committee are public meetings and	1760
shall be open to the public at all times. A member of the	1761
Committee shall be present in person at a meeting that is open to	1762
the public in order to be considered present or to vote at the	1763
meeting and for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is	1764
present. The chairs of the Committee shall promptly prepare and	1765
maintain the minutes of the meetings, and the minutes shall be	1766
public records pursuant to section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The	1767
committee shall give reasonable notice of the Committee's meetings	1768
so that any person may determine the time and place of all	1769
scheduled meetings. The Committee shall not hold a meeting unless	1770
the Committee gives at least twenty-four hours advance notice to	1771
the news media organizations that have requested notification of	1772
the Committee's meetings.	1773

Section 4. That existing Section 6 of Sub. H.B. 336 of the	1774
126th General Assembly is hereby repealed.	1775

Section 5. This act is hereby declared to be an emergency	1776
measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public	1777
peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity is that	1778
enactment into law at the earliest possible time is necessary to	1779
provide sufficient time for candidates for the new judgeship of	1780
the Champaign County Court of Common Pleas to file declarations of	1781
candidacy and nominating petitions. Therefore, this act shall go	1782
into immediate effect.	1783