Municipalities that would like to operate a mayor’s court next year must register with the Ohio Supreme Court beginning this week.

The online registration opens on January 1, 2015, and the mayor’s courts have until January 15 or 15 days before the first court session of the new year, whichever is later. Courts may register using the mayor’s court portal or mail the annual registration form. Both are located on the Supreme Court website.

Currently available records indicate that in 2014, there were 298 municipal corporations in 65 of the state’s 88 counties operating mayor’s courts that registered and reported activity to the Supreme Court. Mayor’s courts hear only cases involving violations of local ordinances and state traffic laws. Mayors do not need to be attorneys to preside over cases and their rulings can be appealed to municipal or county courts.

In 2004, the Supreme Court was granted authority by state lawmakers to provide court procedures and require legal education for mayors hearing cases.