Magistrate
Hamilton County Courthouse
1000 Main Street
Room 585
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Margaret Rentz
Administrator
Phone: 513-946-5820
Fax: 513-946-5824
Alec Burkhart
Law Clerk
Phone: 513-946-5821
Fax: 513-946-5824
David M. Kothman
Staff Attorney/Magistrate
Hamilton County Courthouse
1000 Main Street
Room 413
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Common Pleas Magistrates
Magistrate David M. Kothman is the primary magistrate serving the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, pursuant to Local Rule 23. Cases/matters are referred by Local Rule, General Order of Reference (M9600400), Individual Order of Reference, and Special Order of Reference.
Magistrate David M. Kothman also hears all proceedings in aid of execution, exemption hearings, and all uncontested applications to confirm arbitration awards.
Those matters referred by General Order of Reference include all foreclosure cases; administrative appeal cases assigned to all judges with the exception of Hon. Robert P. Ruehlman; all forfeiture cases not resulting in indictment; all sex offender removal cases; all environmental cases filed by the County Prosecutor's Office. All general orders of reference refer cases to the magistrate until judgment, including a magistrate's decision on all cases wherein a jury demand has not been made and in those cases where a jury demand has been made and the parties consent to a trial by jury with the magistrate presiding.
All hearings for default, garnishments, attachments/replevin, executions, evictions, judgment debtor examinations referred by Local Rule 23 and are scheduled at dates and times designated by the Assignment Commissioner, (513)946-5939.
The magistrate handles arraignment and extraditions pursuant to Local Rule 7.
Pursuant to Local Rule 37, the magistrate presides over all hearings required under R.C. § 2903.214, Civil Stalking Protection Orders.
Magistrate Kothman's daily calendar generally begins at 8:15 a.m. with Forfeiture cases. Case management hearings, defaults, extraditions are heard at 9:00 a.m.; motions for summary judgment at 9:15 a.m.; oral arguments on Administrative Appeal cases at 9:30 a.m.; and trials at 10:00 a.m. For Instructions on Preparing a Magistrate's Decision please click here. Magistrate Kothman's Aid of Execution, Exemption, and Uncontested Applications to Confirm Arbitration Awards hearing calendar begins at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 305.
Plaintiffs and petitioners are required to attend all hearings. No faxes will be accepted and no telephone call-ins will be permitted except through leave of the court.