Honorable Katie Casch

Hamilton County Courthouse
1000 Main Street
Room 510
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Tim Noel, Bailiff
Phone Number: 513-946-5790

Linda Johnson, Staff Attorney
ljohnson@cms.hamilton-co.org
Phone Number: 513-946-5791
Fax Number: 513-946-5792

COURTROOM PROCEDURES

CASE MANAGEMENT 

In criminal cases, scheduling is done through the bailiff, Tim Noel.

In civil cases, a trial schedule will be set at the initial case management conference.  Case management conferences and status reports may be conducted by telephone unless the court orders otherwise.  Plaintiff’s Counsel has the responsibility to get the opposing counsel(s) on the phone for a conference call prior to calling the Court.

If parties desire an extension of the deadlines set in the case management conference, it must be done via written motion.

MOTION PRACTICE

A courtesy copy of dispositive motions, along with a Word-formatted proposed Entry, must be emailed to ljohnson@cms.hamilton-co.org

The case caption should be included in the email’s subject line.

The timelines for responses to and replies in support of motions will follow those imposed by the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure and any applicable local rule.

Counsel should be familiar with the Local Rules.

The Court will set hearings for motions on a case-by-case basis, either sua sponte or at the request of a party.  Motion hearing exhibits must be provided to the opposing party and the Court.  To request the status of a pending motion or to alert the court of an urgent request, counsel should contact either the bailiff (criminal cases) or the staff attorney (civil cases).

CIVIL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

During the initial case management conference, a pretrial conference will be set approximately two weeks prior to trial and are conducted in person.  Attorneys shall have their clients present for the pretrials.

Pretrial statements are due at least three business days before the pretrial conference. Pretrial statements should follow the format in the Local Rules.

Motions in limine should be filed before the pretrial.

Counsel must prepare complete proposed jury instructions and submit them to ljohnson@cms.hamilton-co.org in Word format prior to the pretrial conference.

TRIAL

Trials will commence at 10am and continue until approximately 4pm, with a one-hour lunch and occasional recesses.

There is no time limit for voir dire, but counsel is expected to keep voir dire direct.

DISCOVERY

Discovery time limits are set at the initial case management conference. The Court expects opposing parties to be courteous and respectful regarding discovery. If a discovery dispute arises, parties must attempt to work it out before seeking Court involvement.  The Court generally discourages discovery motions and expects counsel to resolve discovery issues short of court intervention.

COURTROOM ETIQUETTE

Counsel and parties are expected to be professional, respectful, and courteous at all times. When speaking during a hearing or trial, counsel should stand, either at the podium or at their table. Counsel should ask permission before approaching a witness or the bench, but consider such permission continuing after the first request unless otherwise directed from the bench.