270 East Main Street
Batavia, OH 45103
HOURS OF OPERATION: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, EXCEPT LEGAL HOLIDAYS
“All courts shall be open, and every person, for an injury done him in his land, goods, person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and shall have justice administered without denial or delay.” Ohio Constitution, Bill of Rights, Article 1, Section 16, Redress in courts
“The judicial power of the state is vested in a supreme court, courts of appeals, courts of common pleas and divisions thereof, and such other courts inferior to the Supreme Court as may from time to time be established by law.” Ohio Constitution, Article 4, Section 1, In whom power vested
“(A) There shall be a court of common pleas and such divisions thereof as may be established by law serving each county of the state. ….
(B) The courts of common pleas and divisions thereof shall have such original jurisdiction over all justiciable matters and such powers of review of proceedings of administrative officers and agencies as may be provided by law.” Ohio Constitution, Article 4, Section 4, Common Pleas Court
Formed in 1801 even before Ohio became a state, the Common Pleas Court serves the people of Clermont County as the constitutionally created general jurisdiction trial court for the administration of justice within the county borders. The General Division of the Clermont County Common Pleas Court has original jurisdiction to hear all adult felony criminal cases and all civil cases regardless of the dollar amount in controversy. The Court also has the authority to issue injunctions and certain legal writs. The Court has appellate jurisdiction over the decisions of some state and local administrative agencies, boards, and commissions. In addition, the Court presides over the Clermont County Grand Jury, which has the power to hand down indictments in criminal cases. The Court is responsible for the operation of the Probation Department, which supervises those criminal defendants placed on community control as part of their sentence.
The jurisdiction of the General Division of the Common Pleas Court is separate from the other divisions. The Domestic Relations Division, located at 2340 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia, presides over cases involving divorce, dissolution, child custody, visitation, and support, and other family matters. The Probate Division, located at 2379 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia hears and decides matters involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, name changes, and other matters. The Juvenile Court, located at 2340 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia, has legal authority over cases involving children who are alleged to be delinquent, unruly, abused, neglected, abandoned, or otherwise in need of legal attention. The General Division hears and decides allegations of serious crimes committed by adults, civil matters involving contracts, personal injury, business issues, real estate including foreclosures, and all other matters not within the legal authority of the other divisions.
The four Common Pleas Court judges are elected to six-year terms on a non-partisan ballot. A person must be an attorney with at least six years of experience in the practice of law to be elected or appointed to the court. The Judges and their dedicated staff strive to administer justice fairly, impartially, and promptly in all cases that come before the Court.
The Common Pleas Court is in session from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
In order to better serve the citizens who appear before it, the Court has created this web site as a source of public information about court operations and the legal system. There are pages on this site with information on court dockets, jury service, grand jury reports, probation, mediation, standard court forms, and other matters. There is a page on foreclosure mediation with information specifically for individuals facing foreclosure on their homes. For the convenience of our web site visitors, the Court has answers to numerous Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a Legal Glossary on this site.
However, nothing on this web site should be considered as giving legal advice. The Judges and the court staff cannot give legal advice to anyone in person, by phone, or through this web site. This web site is not a substitute for the advice and counsel of an attorney on legal matters.
“The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government” George Washington
“I think the first duty of society is justice.” Alexander Hamilton
“The most sacred of the duties of a government, [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens.” Thomas Jefferson