Unless you have received prior approval from the Court, all parties and their counsel must be present for scheduled hearings. Please be on time and prepared to proceed with your case at the scheduled time. Counsel should make every effort to communicate with their clients and other parties prior to the scheduled hearing. If an emergency arises, or you will be late, please notify the Court immediately and provide a phone number at which you can be reached. Failure to appear on time may result in the case proceeding without you or being dismissed.

 

Professionalism and civility are expected of all persons entering the courtroom, including in a zoom proceeding. All parties and counsel are expected to be respectful and courteous to the court staff, the attorneys and parties on your own case and any other people with whom you may interact. Be quiet in the courtroom while other hearings are in progress and be mindful of the hallway noise that filters in each time the doors are opened. All parties and counsel are expected to wear appropriate attire during all court proceedings. Please be mindful of this when attending a zoom court hearing – you are still appearing before the court for a court proceeding.

Diversion and mediation of cases is always encouraged. Consistent with the Court’s adherence to JDAI principles, delinquency and unruly matters should avoid formal Court involvement if possible. In appropriate cases, attempts should be made to divert or mediate delinquency matters prior to or at the initial hearing. Mediations of pre- and post-adjudication A/N/D cases will be liberally ordered.

Counsel and their clients should be prepared to start trials at their scheduled time. Negotiation and agreed resolutions should be completed prior to trial. Please mark all exhibits prior to trial and have copies of all exhibits available for opposing counsel. Stipulations are encouraged.

Please make sure you have up-to-date information and a report when appropriate. Please comply with Franklin County Local Juvenile Rule 4 and Rule 48 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.