Duties of County Court Judges
County Court Judges, within and coextensive with their respective counties, have jurisdiction and authority to:
1. Administer an oath authorized or required by law to be administered
2. Take acknowledgments of instruments of writing
3. Issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses to give evidence in causes or matters pending before the judges, or for the purpose of taking depositions or perpetuating testimony
4. Proceed against sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, and constables failing to make return, making false return, of failing to pay over money collected on execution issued by the judges
5. Try actions against other county court judges for refusing or neglecting to pay over moneys collected in their official capacity when the amount claimed does not exceed five hundred dollars. This division does not deny or impair any remedy provided by law in such a case by suit on the official bond of such a county court judge, or by amercement or otherwise, for neglect or failure to pay over money so collected
6. Hear actions concerning the issuance and enforcement of, issue, and enforce temporary protection orders pursuant to section 2919.26 of the Revised Code and protection on orders pursuant to section 2903.213 (2903.21.3) of the Revised Code
7. Hear actions concerning the enforcement of protection orders issued by the courts of another state, as defined in section 2919.27 of the Revised Code, and to enforce those protection orders
8. County court judges may punish contempts, and exercise powers necessary to give effect to the jurisdiction of the court and to enforce its judgments, orders, and decrees, as provided in a manner authorized by the Revised Code or common law for the judges of the court of common pleas.
9. County court judges have the jurisdiction and authority to perform marriage ceremonies anywhere in Ohio
Case Types
The types of cases over which county courts have jurisdiction include traffic violations, operating a vehicle while under the influence, misdemeanor crimes, felony crimes through preliminary hearing, small claims cases in which the amount does not exceed $6,000.00, civil actions in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $15,000.00, landlord tenant cases, replevin, trusteeship, and appeals of certain types of driver's license suspensions.
Disputes involving amounts larger than $15,000.00 or title to real estate are handled in the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas.
Venue for Eastern County Court
Venue is the geographical area covered by a particular court. The venue of each court is established primarily by the state legislature. Although there are a number of bases upon which the venue in a particular case may rest, the general rule is that a court may only hear cases which arise within its geographical area. Venue is commonly referred to as territorial jurisdiction.
THE VENUE COVERED BY ASHTABULA COUNTY COURT, EASTERN AREA CONSISTS OF:
| ANDOVER TOWNSHIP |
ANDOVER VILLAGE |
| CHERRY VALLEY TOWNSHIP |
COLEBROOK TOWNSHIP |
| DENMARK TOWNSHIP |
DORSET TOWNSHIP |
| JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP |
JEFFERSON VILLAGE |
| KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP |
LENOX TOWNSHIP |
| MONROE TOWNSHIP |
NEW LYME TOWNSHIP |
| NORTH KINGSVILLE VILLAGE |
PIERPONT TOWNSHIP |
| RICHMOND TOWNSHIP |
SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP |
| WAYNE TOWNSHIP |
WILLIAMSFIELD TOWNSHIP |
