Meigs County Jail Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Meigs County Ohio
Meigs County lies along the Ohio River opposite West Virginia, and its courts share one building, the Meigs County Courthouse at 100 East Second Street in Pomeroy, the county seat. Lacking a municipal court, Meigs routes to its County Court misdemeanors, OVI charges and the early hearings of felony cases, and felonies go on to trial in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas. The Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney handles felonies and also the misdemeanors filed in the County Court. Anyone kept in custody after arrest is the responsibility of the Meigs County Sheriff's Office in Pomeroy.
- Meigs County Court of Common Pleas, Meigs County Courthouse, 100 E. Second Street, Pomeroy, OH 45769, (740) 992-5290
- Meigs County Court, Meigs County Courthouse, 100 E. Second Street, Pomeroy, OH 45769, (740) 992-2279
- Meigs County Probate and Juvenile Court, 100 E. Second Street, Pomeroy, OH 45769, juvenile (740) 992-6205
- Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney, Pomeroy, OH 45769
- Meigs County Sheriff's Office, 104 E. Second Street, Pomeroy, OH 45769, (740) 992-3371
- Lawyers for people who cannot pay: ask the judge in the Meigs County Court, (740) 992-2279, or Common Pleas, (740) 992-5290; state Public Defender (Columbus), (614) 466-5394
Which court hears your case. Meigs County has no municipal court, so the Meigs County Court in Pomeroy is the court of first resort countywide: it handles misdemeanor, OVI and traffic cases, and every felony's first appearance and preliminary hearing. Five villages along the river and in the hills, Middleport, Pomeroy, Racine, Rutland and Syracuse, also hold mayor's courts for ordinance and traffic tickets their officers write. Mayor's courts never seat a jury, and a defendant there may request transfer to the County Court. Felonies then pass to the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas when grand jurors indict, or when the accused waives that step and the state files an information. Meigs is part of Ohio's Fourth Appellate District.
Where pretrial detainees are held. Meigs County arrests are processed by the Sheriff's Office, 104 E. Second Street, Pomeroy, and people who are not released are held at the jail that serves Meigs County, which may include facilities in other counties where the Sheriff places prisoners by contract. Detainees are brought back to the Pomeroy courthouse for hearings. Because housing arrangements can change, the fastest way to find out where a person is held and what the bond is would be to call the Sheriff's Office at (740) 992-3371.
- Local courts in Meigs County (municipal, county and mayor's courts)
- Misdemeanor (for example, petty theft, a first OVI, assault, criminal trespass)
- Felony (for example, burglary, felony theft, drug trafficking, felonious assault)
- Violent felony (for example, murder, rape, aggravated robbery)
- Juveniles (under 18) arrested in Meigs County
- Federal cases (U.S. District Court) from Meigs County
1. Local courts in Meigs County (municipal, county and mayor's courts)
Meigs belongs to the minority of Ohio counties that rely on a county court rather than a municipal court, and for a county of its size it has a long list of village mayor's courts.
County court
- Meigs County Court — Meigs County Courthouse, 100 E. Second Street, Pomeroy, OH 45769, (740) 992-2279. Territory: all of Meigs County, including Pomeroy, Middleport, Racine, Rutland, Syracuse and every township. It takes misdemeanors, OVI and traffic charges, felony arraignments and preliminary hearings, small claims and civil cases.
Municipal court
None exists in Meigs County.
Mayor's courts
- Middleport Mayor's Court — 659 Pearl Street, Middleport, OH 45760, (740) 992-2705
- Pomeroy Mayor's Court — 320 E. Main Street, Pomeroy, OH 45769, (740) 992-2543
- Racine Mayor's Court — 405 Main Street, P.O. Box 399, Racine, OH 45771, (740) 949-2296
- Rutland Mayor's Court — 337 Main Street, Rutland, OH 45775, (740) 742-2121
- Syracuse Mayor's Court — 2581 Third Street, Syracuse, OH 45779, (740) 992-7777
Village courts like these tend to sit on a fixed day roughly once a month. Tickets requiring a jury, or charges a mayor has no authority to decide, are sent to the Meigs County Court in Pomeroy.
2. Misdemeanor (for example, petty theft, a first OVI, assault, criminal trespass)
The typical Meigs County misdemeanor starts with a ticket from a deputy, a village officer or a trooper patrolling State Route 7 or 33. The paper names either a village mayor's court or the County Court in Pomeroy.
Custody and bond
OVI, domestic-violence and warrant arrests generally lead to booking by the Sheriff. Where the court's schedule sets a bond for the charge, it can sometimes be posted without waiting for a hearing. If not, the County Court judge decides bail at the first hearing, which usually takes place the next court day, occasionally over a video link. A Meigs judge setting that amount weighs four considerations drawn from the 2022 constitutional amendment: whether the community would be safe, the person's criminal past, the gravity of the alleged conduct, and the odds of appearing as ordered. Release options run from recognizance to a percentage deposit, a cash bond or a surety bond through a bail agent.
Prosecutor and defense
Since Meigs uses a county court, state misdemeanors there are generally prosecuted by the Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney, while village solicitors handle ordinance cases in the mayor's courts. If jail is a real possibility and there is no money for a lawyer, ask at arraignment for appointed counsel and turn in a financial affidavit. Some courts collect a small application fee.
Penalty ceilings
- M1 (theft below $1,000, assault) — 180 days · $1,000
- M2 — 90 days · $750
- M3 — 60 days · $500
- M4 (criminal trespass) — 30 days · $250
- Minor misdemeanor — $150, jail not allowed
First OVI in Meigs County
The law classifies a first OVI as an M1 and builds in minimums. The defendant serves three consecutive days in jail, unless the judge substitutes a 72-hour driver intervention program; with a .17 test result or certain refusals, the minimum becomes six days. Fines range from $375 to $1,075. The County Court then orders its own one-to-three-year suspension in addition to the administrative suspension issued at the stop, usually with limited privileges, and an interlock may make unlimited driving possible.
Getting to a result
A pretrial conference comes after arraignment. Juries in the County Court are eight people, unanimous, and available only when the defense files a written demand. Cases here end in many ways: dropped charges, diversion, ILC, pleas to lesser counts, community control, fines or jail. Under the speedy-trial statute, an M1 or M2 must be tried in 90 days and lesser degrees in 45, with defense-requested time excluded. Expect one to four months, and look into sealing after a waiting period.
3. Felony (for example, burglary, felony theft, drug trafficking, felonious assault)
Both stages of a Meigs County felony unfold in the same building on East Second Street, though before two different courts.
County Court stage
- First appearance with no unnecessary delay; the judge sets bond under the constitutional factors and names counsel for qualifying defendants.
- Preliminary hearing by day 10 for someone held, or day 15 for someone released, unless an indictment makes it moot.
- A probable-cause finding binds the case over.
Common Pleas stage
- Grand jury: the Prosecuting Attorney presents the evidence in private and jurors vote. Waiving that step in favor of a bill of information is allowed.
- Arraignment in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas, with a plea and another bond review.
- Pretrials, discovery and motions, where most cases are settled by plea.
- Trial, if it comes to that, before twelve jurors who must all agree; a presentence investigation typically follows a conviction.
Time limits
Felony trials in Ohio are due within 270 days after arrest, and a day in custody on this charge alone counts as three. Defense continuances add time. Meigs County felonies mostly take four months to a year.
Possible sentences
Ohio's felony prison ranges by degree are: fifth, six months to a year; fourth, six to eighteen months; third, nine months to three years, stretching to five for certain crimes; second, two to eight years; first, three to eleven years. Under the Reagan Tokes Law, first- and second-degree felonies committed from March 22, 2019, on get indefinite sentences that can run half again past the minimum. Ohio law favors community control over prison for many first offenders charged with nonviolent fourth- or fifth-degree crimes. Theft becomes a fifth-degree felony at $1,000 and a fourth-degree felony at $7,500. Burglary is charged at the second or third degree and felonious assault at the second, and drug trafficking can be any degree, F5 to F1. Firearm specifications require added mandatory prison, and ILC may be an option for drug-related offenses.
4. Violent felony (for example, murder, rape, aggravated robbery)
A county of about 22,000 sees few violent felonies, but those that occur get the full felony process and usually go straight to the grand jury. These defendants are often held without bond, or on very high bond, until the case ends.
What the law allows
- Aggravated murder — death is possible only in a capital prosecution; the other sentences are life imprisonment, either without any parole or with parole eligibility beginning at 20, 25 or 30 years. Since 2018, reprieves have kept Ohio from carrying out any execution.
- Murder — fifteen to life.
- Rape — F1 with a Reagan Tokes indefinite sentence; for a victim under 13, with force or other aggravating facts proven, the court can order life.
- Aggravated robbery — F1, frequently with a gun specification adding mandatory time.
Victims and duration
Under Marsy's Law, adopted by Ohio in 2017, victims have constitutional rights to notice and to attend and be heard at key hearings, and the Prosecuting Attorney's office arranges victim assistance. Forensic testing and trial preparation stretch these cases to a year or two, sometimes longer. Qualifying defendants receive appointed counsel, and capital cases require specially certified attorneys.
5. Juveniles (under 18) arrested in Meigs County
In Meigs County, delinquency matters are a Probate and Juvenile Division responsibility within the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas, with offices in the courthouse at 100 E. Second Street, Pomeroy, (740) 992-6205. The County Prosecuting Attorney files delinquency complaints.
Every complaint goes through intake first. Court staff decide whether a first-time or minor case can be diverted or handled unofficially, typically with restitution, service hours or counseling, or whether it needs formal filing. In a formal case, a judge or magistrate decides without a jury.
When secure custody is needed for a Meigs County youth, the court typically uses a juvenile detention facility that accepts its children under contract, often outside the county, and the juvenile court can tell the family exactly where. A detention hearing is required quickly, inside 72 hours of custody or on the next court day, whichever comes sooner.
Outcomes include probation, treatment, restitution and, after a felony-level finding, a commitment to the state's youth corrections agency, the Ohio Department of Youth Services. Ohio's mandatory transfer rules place certain older teens charged with the very worst crimes in adult court, and in narrow situations 14- and 15-year-olds too. Other felony cases involving a child aged 14 or more can be transferred if an amenability hearing shows the juvenile system is not suitable. A Serious Youthful Offender sentence can add a stayed adult term. Juvenile records are kept mostly out of public view, and many qualify for sealing.
6. Federal cases (U.S. District Court) from Meigs County
Where a Meigs County federal case goes
Meigs County falls within the Eastern Division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Federal criminal cases from Pomeroy, Middleport and elsewhere in the county are generally heard in Columbus at the Joseph P. Kinneary U.S. Courthouse, 85 Marconi Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43215, about two hours away by car.
When a case is federal
A federal case begins when the U.S. Attorney charges someone with violating a federal statute. In this corner of southeast Ohio, that often involves methamphetamine or opioid distribution, firearms offenses, fraud against federal programs, or crimes that cross the river into West Virginia.
Contacts
- U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Ohio: 303 Marconi Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 469-5715
- Federal Public Defender: 10 West Broad Street, Suite 1020, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 469-2999
- U.S. Marshals Service: Kinneary U.S. Courthouse, 85 Marconi Boulevard, Room 460, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 469-5540
The federal timeline
- First appearance in Columbus before a magistrate judge.
- A detention hearing, if prosecutors request one, usually by the third court day; Pretrial Services supervises anyone released on Bail Reform Act conditions.
- Indictment no later than 30 days after a complaint.
- A 70-day trial deadline under federal law, often extended by excludable delay; most cases end in pleas, and any trial uses a unanimous 12-person jury.
- A presentence report, then a sentence shaped by the advisory Guidelines and any mandatory minimum.
- Federal prison with no parole; roughly 85 percent of the sentence is actually served, followed by supervised release; any appeal goes to the Sixth Circuit.
People held before a federal trial stay in jails under contract with the Marshals Service. The Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator lets families around Pomeroy look up someone from Meigs County by name or register number. Anyone from Meigs County held pretrial in a contract jail might also appear on that jail's roster. Federal juvenile prosecutions are rare.
This Meigs County page is general information only and not legal advice. Check court dates with the Meigs County Court at (740) 992-2279 or the Common Pleas Court at (740) 992-5290; if you cannot afford an attorney, the judge can appoint one, and the state Public Defender's office in Columbus answers at (614) 466-5394.
Criminal Court Process for Meigs County Ohio
Meigs County Ohio Criminal Court System – Definitions
It might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site, when explaining the Ohio Court System and how it works. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.
If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Meigs County, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.
Arrest is when Ohio, Meigs County or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed.
In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Meigs County court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.
Booking is when the Meigs County sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation, and verification of identity. Bail for lower-level crimes may be set right after booking so the arrested can “bail or bond out” before being detained.
The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that presses the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the state of Ohio, Meigs County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for Meigs County or the district is called the Prosecuting Attorney. A U.S. Attorney prosecutes federal cases.
Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case. For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case. If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime.
Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.
Arraignment is when a judge determines whether the charges are supported by the prosecution’s initial evidence and tells the arrested what they are charged with, and the person says whether they are guilty or not guilty. At this time, the person is called the defendant, and the opposing side is called the prosecution. If there is reason to believe that the arrested is guilty, the judge will set bail conditions or send the defendant to jail or release them ROR (release on recognizances). An arraignment is not a trial, and the defendant is entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time after the arraignment.
Bail is money paid that is held by the Meigs County or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. Bail amounts and other conditions are determined at the arraignment.
Once the case is over, the bail money is returned to the defendant. If a person does not pay bail, they remain in the Meigs County Jail until their trial. Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or municipal court sets bail. The clerk of courts can set some low-level bonds in Ohio.
In Ohio, judges and magistrates set bail and they rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
It is always important to have family involvement after being arrested. Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf (not all bond companies will accept collect calls), but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court, not only for the defendant’s own good, but because they may have signed bond paperwork and responsible to pay if the defendant does not show in court. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsman will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
A judicial public bond or personal recognizance bond is a bond where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising that the defendant will show up to court. No money is paid to the court. The personal recognizance bond is usually used in a minor misdemeanor or low-level felony.
Cash percentage in lieu of bonds. If the bond order permits, the defendant pays 10% plus a $25 fee to the Meigs County Clerk of Court who then holds the money until the case is over. The amount is returned if the defendant is acquitted or the case is dismissed, or it can be used toward paying any court fines incurred by the defendant.
Surety Bond is when defendant pays a percentage of the bond amount (usually 10–15%) to a professional bondsman or bail bond company licensed to do business in Ohio, {county extended}. The bondsman then signs the bond on behalf of the defendant. The defendant does not receive any of the money back. If the bondsman feels the defendant is a flight risk, they can refuse to give a bond or charge a higher fee. For example, a bondsman may determine a defendant is a flight risk if they are from a state other than Ohio.
A Property Bond is a bond in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted). Usually, the property must be in Meigs County, and it must be worth at least the amount of the bond.
An Unsecured Bond is when the defendant is released without paying bail upfront, but they must pay the full amount if they do not appear in court.
A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest.
If there is a chance that the case might go to trial and the defendant cannot afford an attorney, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the court provide an attorney. This is called indigent representation and a public defender or assigned attorney would represent the defendant in all proceedings. Indigent representation is only available misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time, juvenile cases, and certain appeal cases.
In Ohio, the Ohio Public Defender Commission oversees indigent defense as a whole and contributes 40% of the costs and directly handles appeal and post-conviction cases. It is up to each county to fund most of the costs for criminal cases that could go to trial. There is a $25 fee for indigent representation in Ohio. The following link is for the county public defender.
For less serious cases or civil cases, there are pro bono volunteers who volunteer legal services for free or for a small fee. They often will hold clinics to teach people how to represent themselves in court or expunge their record which means to legally erase or eliminate a criminal or arrest record from public view. The attached link has a list of pro bono organizations in Ohio.
Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se. Here is a link for legal self-help in Ohio.
A district court can refer to the first level of the legal system, or a minor court. District courts are in the community. A district court can also refer to a U.S. Federal District Court that hears federal cases. There are two U.S. federal district courts in Ohio, with offices throughout the state. It is important that you check the address of the court you are to appear in rather than to ask someone because that person might give you directions to the wrong “district” court. Being late for court can land you in custody as well.
Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered. This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.
Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings. A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment. The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty. There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of a more serious criminal related to the crime.
Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial. If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial. If the defendant is found not guilty, they are released. If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.
Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be jail or prison time, fines, community service, probation, or a combination.
Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again at an appellate court. If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.
Ohio Felony vs Misdemeanor
There are two main types of misdemeanor crimes in Ohio.
- A minor misdemeanor is when the potential fine for the offense does not exceed $150 without jail time. Examples of a minor misdemeanor include most traffic violations as speeding, running a red light and can also include violations such as open container and noise violations.
- A first-degree misdemeanor is when there is a possible sentence of 6 months in jail or a maximum fine of $1000 or both. Examples of first-degree misdemeanors include disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing, stalking assault and some drug offenses.
A felony crime in Ohio is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor and can be punished with more significant fines and jail time. Felony crimes can be murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping and identity theft. In Ohio, serious felonies such as murder do not have a category and can hold a sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.
The remaining felonies are divided into 5 categories. The following sentences are the maximum sentences for each crime.
• First degree felony or F1 is punishable by 3 to 11 years in state prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
• Second degree felony or F2 is punishable by 2 to 8 years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
• Third degree felony or F3 is punishable by 1 to 5 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
• Fourth degree felony is punishable by 6 to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $5000 and a
• Fifth degree felony is punishable by 6 to 12 months in state prison and a fine up to $2500.
The Meigs County Clerk of Court is an elected official whose responsibilities for Criminal Court’s administrative issues include receiving criminal warrants, receiving bail, creating the trial schedule, receiving fees, fines and maintaining court records.
A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement. There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime.
A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date. It does not involve an arrest. A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.
A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.
Fines are usually paid to the District Court or clerk of court and payment methods can be found on the District Court or Meigs County Clerk of Court website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, must pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest. It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket.
Ohio Criminal Court System - How it Works
Municipal Courts in Ohio handle cases, including trial, for involve offenses involving municipal (city or town) ordinances, traffic and all misdemeanor offenses. If the arrested might be facing jail time, they have the right to ask for a jury trial in the municipal court. The municipal court can conduct preliminary hearings for felony cases before forwarding them to a court of common plea for further prosecution or trial.
County Courts can handle the identical criminal matters that a municipal court can. Cases are handled in county courts when there are no municipal courts available.
The Courts of Common Pleas (may also be called district court) have original jurisdiction in all criminal felony cases, meaning that a felony case can be handled from the beginning to end. in a court of common pleas and is also the court where trials are heard for misdemeanors. There are Divisions that handle civil and criminal matters. The divisions that handle criminal matters are the General Division for all criminal court proceedings, the Domestic Relations Division that handles divorce matters, domestic and date violence matters. The Juvenile Division has original jurisdiction over cases involving individuals up to age 18.
Specialty Courts are being adopted in many states to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. Ohio’s specialty courts or dockets include drug courts, mental health courts OVI/DUI courts and veteran’s courts.
The following webpage will provide further information on the Ohio specialty courts.
The Ohio Court of Appeals hears appeals from the courts of common pleas, municipal and county courts. Justices will review the procedures of the case and decide whether the case outcome will be changed, unchanged or moved to supreme court.
The Ohio Supreme Court is similar to our United States’ Supreme Court because it The Ohio Supreme Court is like our United States’ Supreme Court because it has a panel of judges that rule on matters that have to do with someone’s constitutional rights or policies and laws. The Ohio State Supreme Court deals with the state constitution or laws or policies. Sometimes the Supreme Court will hear criminal cases on appeal when there is a question on the state laws or procedures that lead to the appeal. The criminal cases are usually referred from the district courts of appeal.
FEDERAL COURT
Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws. Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.
Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime.
There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the Ohio state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).
Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.
There are two U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in Ohio.
