{"id":2902,"date":"2015-12-09T16:59:26","date_gmt":"2015-12-09T16:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/?page_id=2902"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:37:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T14:37:14","slug":"common-pleas-court-judge-jennifer-l-branch","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/common-pleas-court-judge-jennifer-l-branch\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Pleas Court Judge Jennifer L. Branch"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Jennifer L. Branch<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hamilton County Courthouse
\n1000 Main Street
\nRoom 320
\nCincinnati, Ohio 45202<\/p>\n

Video Conferences are held at Zoom.com Using Meeting ID 704 526 9737 Passcode 110981<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bailiff
\nBranchBailiff@cms.hamilton-co.org<\/a>
\nRobin T. Jenkins
\nPhone: 513-946-5117<\/p>\n

Staff Attorney Civil Docket<\/strong>
\nBranchStaffAttorney@cms.hamilton-co.org<\/a>
\nTori DeLaney
\nPhone: 513-946-5118<\/p>\n

Staff Attorneys Commercial Docket<\/strong>
\nCommercialDocket@cms.hamilton-co.org<\/a>
\nCaroline Hyatt
\nPhone:513-946-5855<\/p>\n

Parker Root
\nPhone:513-946-5893<\/p>\n

Plea Forms<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jury Waiver<\/a>
\nGuilty Plea<\/a>
\nGuilty Plea (Agreed Sentence)<\/a>
\nGuilty Plea Reagan Tokes (Qualifying Offense)<\/a>
\nGuilty Plea Agreed Reagan Tokes (Qualifying Offense Agreed Sentence)<\/a>
\nMisdemeanor Guilty Plea<\/a>
\nNo Contest Plea<\/a>
\nNo Contest Reagan Tokes (Qualifying Offense No Contest)<\/a>
\nAffidavit of Indigency<\/a>
\nAlford Plea<\/a><\/p>\n

Judge Jennifer L. Branch Rules of Court<\/strong><\/p>\n

These rules will be updated periodically. The Court welcomes your suggestions. This version was updated May 1, 2026. Failure to follow the Rules of Court may result in sanctions.<\/p>\n

All Cases \u2013 Civil and Criminal.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Civility<\/strong>.\u00a0 Please remain civil and professional at all times.\u00a0 The Court expects all litigants and participants to respect courtroom staff, all counsel, and all participants at all times. \u00a0The Court notices that counsel who are prepared, professional, and ethical make the best advocates.
\n\u00a0<\/strong>
\nCommunication with Court Staff.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Ex parte communications with the Judge and her Staff are prohibited unless all parties consent or the matter involves being late to court, directions, or videoconferencing technical assistance. The preferred method of communication with court staff is email and you must include all attorneys and unrepresented parties on each email. \u00a0Communications with court staff on social media, text, or phone about matters pending before the Court are not permitted. If you are not sure who to email, please email the Bailiff.<\/p>\n

Pending motions and decisions.<\/strong>\u00a0The Court endeavors to issue rulings promptly. Once a motion has been ripe for more than 60 days, please email Court staff that a motion remains pending and copy all parties.<\/p>\n

Unopposed motions<\/strong>. Local Rule 14(B) allows the court to grant an unopposed motion.\u00a0 Any unopposed motion will typically be granted. The moving party is permitted to email Court staff when an unopposed motion is ripe for decision.<\/p>\n

Pretrial Statements are Required in All Trials (Criminal and Civil). \u00a0<\/strong>A Pretrial Statement alerts the Court that the parties are ready for trial and the issues the parties intend to be tried. A Pretrial Statement includes a list of potential witnesses, exhibits, motions in limine, jury instructions not included in OJI, the status of settlement, and any issues unique to the case.
\n\u00a0<\/strong>
\nTrial Briefs Are Required in All Bench Trials (Criminal and Civil). \u00a0<\/strong>Each party is required to file a Trial Brief two weeks before the bench trial. A Trial Brief is filed in lieu of jury instructions.\u00a0 Include in the brief: \u00a0a statement of the facts or proposed findings of fact; a discussion of controlling law or proposed conclusions of law; stipulations; and briefing on legal issues related to claims, defenses, and remedies. Please use your best judgment to decide what issues to brief for the Court.\u00a0 Since Trial Briefs shall be submitted simultaneously, parties should anticipate the opposing party\u2019s legal issues.<\/p>\n

CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL DOCKET CASES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Video conferencing.\u00a0<\/strong>All appearances will be held by video conferencing unless the parties all agree to appear in person.\u00a0The Court prefers to hold mediation conferences and Final Pretrial conferences in person when all counsel are local. Parties will be provided video conferencing sign-in information before the first court appearance. \u00a0Be sure to retain the sign-in instructions and use them for all future video conferences.<\/p>\n

Notification Form. Plaintiff counsel and all counsel and self-represented (pro se) litigants must file a Notification Form <\/a><\/strong>immediately upon representation<\/strong>. This form gives the Court and all parties the ability to contact counsel\/parties directly.\u00a0 Be sure to include your direct dial phone number and email address as well as current mailing address. File a new Notification Form whenever any contact information changes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Initial Case Order.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The Court files an\u00a0Initial Case Order\u00a0in all cases. All counsel appearing in the case are expected to read and follow the Initial Case Order.<\/p>\n

Service.\u00a0\u00a0Plaintiff has 6 months to complete service on at least 1 defendant before the case may be dismissed sua sponte for lack of prosecution.\u00a0 <\/strong>The longer service takes, the less time Plaintiff has to prepare the case for trial. The trial date is set based on the filing date of the initial complaint and is typically set 20 months after filing the complaint in most civil cases and 17 months after filing the complaint in most commercial docket cases.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Case Management Conferences (CMC).\u00a0 <\/strong>The Assignment Commissioner automatically sets the date for the Initial Case Management Conference between 60-90 days after the complaint is filed or case is transferred.\u00a0The CMC will proceed as long as at least one defendant has been served. Defendant\u2019s response to the complaint is not required to be filed before the CMC date. If service on at least 1 defendant has not been accomplished 21 days prior to the CMC,\u00a0Plaintiff is required to file a motion to postpone the CMC<\/strong>\u00a0to a date after which service is expected to be accomplished and explain what Plaintiff plans to do to obtain service and how long that service is expected to take.\u00a0 Failure to file a motion to continue the CMC will result in the Court setting the case schedule sua sponte. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Preparing for the Initial Case Management Conference.\u00a0 No later than 5 business days before<\/strong> the initial CMC, the parties shall file a case plan pursuant to the Ohio R. Civ. Proc. 26(f).\u00a0 The Court has a sample 26(f) Report<\/a>\/ Discovery Plan you may use.\u00a0 A courtesy copy of the report shall be emailed to the Court\u2019s Staff Attorney.\u00a0 If the attorneys cannot agree to the case plan, the Court will consider the parties\u2019 positions and sua sponte<\/em> impose a case schedule.<\/p>\n

When completing the Rule 26(f) plan, use these guidelines:<\/p>\n

Trial dates<\/u>:\u00a0 The Court expects all civil cases to be ready for trial within 20 months of filing and all commercial docket cases to be ready for trial within 17 months of filing.<\/p>\n

Status Report<\/u>: This is set approximately 30 days before the close of discovery.<\/p>\n

Dispositive motion deadline<\/u>:\u00a0 This is set at least 4 months prior to the final pretrial conference to give time for briefing, oral argument, and decision issued before the final pretrial conference..<\/p>\n

Final Pretrial Conference<\/u>:\u00a0 This is set 3-4 weeks before trial.\u00a0 A longer period is chosen in complicated cases.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Complex Cases<\/strong>.\u00a0 A case must be designated complex within six months after the complaint is filed.\u00a0 A civil or commercial docket case designated complex must be tried within 36 months of the filing of the complaint.\u00a0 The Court will promptly consider a motion to designate a case as complex.<\/p>\n

Discovery May Only Be Delayed by a Court Order<\/strong>.\u00a0 No delay in scheduling the CMC will delay the start of discovery.\u00a0 The parties are expected to exchange initial disclosures prior to the CMC when possible. Unless the Court grants a motion to stay discovery, discovery shall proceed as soon as possible and will not be delayed while a dispositive motion is pending.\u00a0 The parties\u2019 mutual agreement to delay discovery is not grounds to postpone the dispositive motion deadline, final pretrial conference, or trial date.<\/p>\n

Case Scheduling Order<\/strong>. The Court will promptly issue a Case Scheduling Order at the conclusion of the CMC.\u00a0 Once set, the dispositive motion briefing dates, pretrial conference, and trial dates WILL<\/strong>\u00a0NOT BE EXTENDED<\/strong>\u00a0absent a showing of diligent efforts to prepare the case, the occurrence of unexpected and unavoidable circumstances requiring the change, and proof of the client\u2019s consent. This means the moving party\/parties must affirmatively state in the motion to continue that their client(s) consents to the filing of the motion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Motion for Extensions of time<\/strong>. Unopposed motions for extensions of time will routinely be granted when the extension does not change the dispositive motion deadline, final pretrial conference, or the trial date. A motion shall state in the caption when the motion is unopposed.\u00a0 Counsel may email the Staff Attorney (and copy all counsel) to alert the Court when a motion is pending that needs a prompt ruling.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Final Pretrial Conference (FPTC)<\/strong>.\u00a0 The FPTC is set 3 - 4 weeks before trial.\u00a0 The FPTC date triggers the deadline for most pretrial submissions. The Court\u2019s\u00a0Case Scheduling Order\u00a0explains the deadlines for pretrial submissions.\u00a0 Pretrial Statements are due 2 weeks before the FPTC.\u00a0 Pretrial Statements alert the Court that the parties are ready for trial and the issues the parties intend to be tried. A Pretrial Statement includes a list of potential witnesses, exhibits, motions in limine, jury instructions not included in OJI, the status of settlement, and any issues unique to the case. Unless otherwise ordered, Counsel and all parties and persons with authority must be present at the FPTC.\u00a0 At the FPTC, Counsel shall be prepared to discuss proposed jury instructions, stipulations, motions in limine, deposition testimony, expert witnesses, exhibits, logistics, and settlement prospects.\u00a0 Failure to comply with pretrial requirements may result in sanctions.<\/p>\n

Jury and Bench Trials<\/strong>. Due to the size of the Court\u2019s docket, the Court sets multiple jury trials for the same day.\u00a0 Criminal jury trials will take precedence over civil trials.\u00a0 You are welcome to email the staff attorney before the trial date to inquire of the status of your case on the docket.<\/p>\n

Criminal Docket<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Case Scheduling Order<\/strong>.\u00a0 Disposition Scheduling Conferences (DSC) will be held on Fridays in most cases. At the DSC, the parties select the deadlines for the Case Scheduling Order<\/a>.\u00a0All Cases are expected to be tried no later than 5 months after the arraignment date, unless the case is a special felony or a felony of the first degree. Once the parties select the trial date at the DSC, no continuance of the trial date will be granted <\/strong>absent a showing of diligent efforts to prepare the case and the occurrence of unexpected and unavoidable circumstances requiring the change. The parties are to read and follow these Rules of Court and the Case Scheduling Order<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bond<\/strong>.\u00a0 Motions to modify bond shall be in writing and filed and served on the State at least 10 days in advance of the next scheduled court date so the victim(s), if any, can be notified of the motion.\u00a0 Once Judge Branch sets a bond, all motions to modify the bond conditions must state the changed circumstance necessitating the motion<\/strong>.\u00a0 When bond modifications are opposed, the State is encouraged to file a responsive memorandum at least three business days before the hearing.<\/p>\n

Court Dates. <\/strong>Judge Branch will see the parties on the record at all court dates.\u00a0 Defendants are required to be present at all court dates, unless the Court in advance excuses their presence.\u00a0 The Prosecutor is required to notify and confer with all victims before each court date.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Final Pretrial Conference. \u00a0<\/strong>The Final Pretrial Conference is held in all cases at least two weeks before the trial date. The purpose of the Final Pretrial Conference is to ensure the parties are ready for trial, resolve any pretrial issues, set a hearing on pretrial motions, identify significant legal issues, and determine if the case can be resolved before trial.\u00a0\u00a0Pretrial statements are mandatory in\u00a0 all cases and are due 2 weeks before the Final Pretrial Conference<\/strong>.\u00a0 Pretrial Statements alert the Court that the parties are ready for trial and the issues the parties intend to be tried. A Pretrial Statement includes a list of potential witnesses, exhibits, motions in limine, jury instructions not included in OJI, the status of settlement, and any issues unique to the case<\/p>\n

Motions in limine<\/strong> are required to be filed one week before the final pretrial conference, and memorandum in opposition are due one week thereafter, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.<\/p>\n

Jury Instructions.\u00a0\u00a0The parties are to submit Joint Proposed Jury Instructions one week before trial<\/strong> unless otherwise ordered by the Court. Parties are to work together to submit joint jury instructions. Proposed instructions may take the form of a Word document, a list of citations to Ohio Jury Instructions (\u201cOJI\u201d), a copy of instructions used in another case, or citations to case law.<\/p>\n

Jury Trials<\/strong>.\u00a0 The Court sets multiple jury trials for the same day.\u00a0 Criminal trials will take precedence over civil trials.\u00a0 Defendants who are detained before trial will take priority over defendants who are not detained.\u00a0 Please email the Court\u2019s Bailiff (and copy all counsel) prior to the jury trial date to determine the status of your case on the docket.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sentencing Memorandum Required<\/strong>.\u00a0 Counsel for the State and the Defendant must file sentencing a memorandum five business days before sentencing<\/strong> in Special Felony, Felony 1, and Felony 2 cases where the parties do not recommend an agreed sentence. The memorandum must address all relevant factors the Court should consider at sentencing.\u00a0 Sentencing memoranda are appreciated in all other cases.<\/p>\n

About Judge Jennifer L. Branch<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Judge Branch graduated from New York University with honors in 1984 and from Case Western Reserve University School of Law cum laude in 1987. \u00a0She began her legal career at the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati.\u00a0 In 1997, she became an associate in a civil rights litigation practice with Al Gerhardstein and Bob Laufman, and later became a partner at Gerhardstein & Branch in 2005.\u00a0 Judge Branch\u2019s civil rights practice included representing plaintiffs in discrimination cases, police misconduct cases, reproductive rights cases, and LGBT issues.\u00a0 She represented the plaintiffs in Ohio\u2019s marriage equality cases, including\u00a0Obergefell v. Hodges<\/em>.\u00a0 Judge Branch was elected to the Court in November 2020 and began her judgeship on February 9, 2021.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-fullwidth-subpage.php","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2902","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2902"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22198,"href":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2902\/revisions\/22198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamiltoncountycourts.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}