Additional tie-breaker specifications for who serves as a court’s presiding judge and administrative judge have been adopted by the Ohio Supreme Court. The amendments take effect December 1.

Judges in multi-judge courts and divisions typically elect a presiding judge and administrative judge. Only when they cannot come to agreement do the tie-breakers come into play.

The administrative judge in a local court or division of a court is responsible for a variety of functions, including overseeing the docket of the court or division; the administration of the court or division, including implementing the court’s or division’s personnel policies; and the court or division’s observance of rules adopted by the Supreme Court. The presiding judge is responsible for a variety of functions, including administrative matters common to all divisions of a court and assigning judges on a temporary basis from one division to the other.

Under the new rule that was adopted 7-0 and announced today, when a tie-breaker is necessary, the position would be determined as follows:

• The judge having the longest total service on the court or division will serve.
• If two or more judges have equal periods of service on the court or division, the judge with the longest total service as an Ohio judge will serve.
• If two or more judges have equal periods of service no matter the court, the judge having the earliest date of admittance to the practice of law in Ohio will serve.
• If two or more judges were admitted on the same date, the Chief Justice or, if the tie involves an administrative judge for a multi-judge division of a common pleas court, the presiding judge will designate who will serve.

View the text of the amendments.

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