Assignment Commissioner

Assignment Commissioner's Office

The Assignment Commissioner’s Office is responsible for three functions: Assignments and scheduling, the Visiting Judge Program and Statistical Reporting.

Assignments and Scheduling

The Assignment Commissioner’s Office is primarily responsible for docketing and scheduling matters for the sixteen judges and the two magistrates of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Cases are assigned and scheduled according to the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio as established by the Ohio Supreme Court and the Hamilton County Local Rules.

Visiting Judge Program

The Assignment Commissioner’s Office is also responsible for coordinating the Visiting Judge Program. Visiting Judges are assigned by the Ohio Supreme Court for a specific term of court, a specific period of time, or a specific case(s). Cases are referred to the Visiting Judge Program for trial disposition.  If you would like more information about the Visiting Judge Program please feel free to contact Janice Kramer via telephone at: 513-946-5953 or via email at: jkramer@cms.hamilton-co.org.

Common Pleas Visiting Judges:

J. Patrick Foley - retired Hamilton County Common Pleas Court

Sylvia S. Hendon - retired 1st District Court of Appeals

Jerry R. McBride - retired Clermont County Common Pleas Court

Charles Pater - retired Butler County Common Pleas Court

J. Howard Sundermann - retired 1st District Court of Appeals

Common Pleas Visiting Judge Bailiffs:

Judy Walters, 513-946-5815

Matt Taylor, 513-946-5825

Specific Duties

Special Cases - a specific assignment based on the peculiar nature of the case or the disqualification for just cause of the entire Common Pleas Bench from a case.

Calendar Maintenance – a referral to maintain the trial calendar of an Assigned Judge during his/her absence or illness.

Statistical Reporting Section

The Assignment Commissioner’s Office also maintains statistical records for the Court [https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/Publications/default.asp].