Ohio Sup.R. 4.00

(A) Single-judge courts

In a single-judge court of common pleas or a single-judge municipal or county court, the

judge is designated and shall serve as the presiding judge of the court.

(B) Multi-judge courts

(1) In a court of appeals, a multi-judge court of common pleas, or a multi-judge

municipal or county court, the judges of the court shall elect by a majority vote the

presiding judge of the court from the judges of the court.

(2) If the judges of a court are unable to elect a presiding judge of the court pursuant to

division (B)(1) of this rule, the presiding judge shall be determined as follows:

(a) The judge having the longest total service on the court;

(b) If two or more judges have equal periods of total service on the

court, the judge having the longest total service as an Ohio judge;

(c) If two or more judges have equal periods of total service as an Ohio

judge, the judge having the earliest date of admittance to the practice

of law in Ohio;

(d) If two or more judges were admitted to the practice of law in Ohio

on the same date, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall

designate one of the judges of the court.

(C) Term

(1) The term of a presiding judge of a court shall be one year and begin on January 1st

of the year immediately following the designation or election of the presiding judge.

(2) A presiding judge may serve consecutive terms. A presiding judge of a two or three

judge court shall serve no more than two full consecutive terms, except by

unanimous vote.

(D) Death, resignation, incapacity, or ineligibility

(1) In the event the presiding judge of a single-judge court dies, resigns, becomes

ineligible, or otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office of presiding judge,

a sitting or retired judge assigned by the Chief Justice shall serve as the presiding

judge until the vacancy is resolved.

(2) In the event the presiding judge of a court with two judges dies, resigns, becomes

ineligible, or otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office of presiding judge,

the remaining judge is designated as the successor presiding judge and shall serve

until the inability or ineligibility resolves or the balance of the term, whichever

occurs first.

(3) In the event the presiding judge of a court with three or more judges dies, resigns,

becomes ineligible, or otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office of

presiding judge, a successor presiding judge shall be elected pursuant to division

(B) of this rule within fifteen days and shall serve until the inability or ineligibility

resolves or the balance of the term, whichever occurs first.

(E) Designation or election date

The designation or election of a presiding judge of a court shall occur on or before

December 31st of the year preceding the term.

(F) Notification of designation or election

(1) A presiding judge of a court shall notify the Administrative Director of the Supreme

Court of a judge’s designation or election as the presiding judge by January 15th of

the year of the term.

(2) A presiding judge of a court shall notify the Administrative Director of the Supreme

Court of a judge’s mid- term designation or election as the presiding judge within

three business days of the designation or election.