Franklin County Municipal Court Operations During COVID-19 Pandemic

Updated May 28, 2020: Additional information about courtrooms 1A, 1B, and 11B being heard at the Columbus Convention Center from June 1 until August 31 can be found on this page regarding the Columbus Convention Center.

Updated May 26, 2020: Administrative Order 12-2020, effective 5-26-2020: sets forth the Court's orders regarding eviction writs of restitution that could not be enforced during the emergency period. As described in the order, those writs can be enforced starting on June 1.

Updated May 21, 2020: Administrative Order 10-2020, effective 5-20-2020: All traffic arraignments held in courtroom 1A or 1B and eviction hearings held in courtroom 11B from June 1 until August 31 shall be heard at the Columbus Convention Center on the date and at the time scheduled. Please read the full administrative order for details regarding:

  • Traffic arraignment
  • Evictions
  • Small Claims Division
  • Weddings
  • Filings with the Clerk of Court
  • Self-Help Resource Center
  • Jury service

Updated May 19, 2020: Administrative Order 11-2020, effective 5-21-2020: To comply with the CARES Act, any new eviction complaint filing needs to be accompanied by a completed CARES Act Compliance Affidavit until July 25, 2020.

Updated April 7, 2020: Administrative Order 07-2020, effective 4-7-2020, is attached below regarding the status of the Court's operations. With limited exception, all non-prisoner cases are being scheduled or continued until June 1 or after. Please read the full administrative order for details regarding:

  • Assigned cases, except prisoner cases
  • Traffic arraignment
  • Criminal arraignment
  • Evictions
  • Small Claims
  • Miscellaneous hearing
  • Weddings
  • Filings with the Clerk of Court
  • Garnishments

Updated March 24, 2020: Administrative Order 06-2020, effective 3-23-2020, is attached below regarding the Franklin County Municipal Court's Findings of Fact and instructing the Clerk of Court as follows regarding Garnishment filings:
For any garnishment action or order filed between March 16, 2020, and May 8, 2020, the Clerk shall accept it for filing, receipt payment of the court cost, and shall issue service of the action or order no earlier than May 11, 2020. As much as practicable, the Clerk shall issue service of the garnishments in the order in which they were received.

Updated March 18, 2020: Administrative Order 05-2020, effective 3-17-2020, is attached below regarding the Franklin County Municipal Court's Findings of Fact and continuum of responses intended to protect public health, to maintain essential court functions, and to continue to protect the right of all individuals subject to the authority of the Court.

Updated March 16, 2020: The Franklin County Municipal Court is open as we continue to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following information concerns the status of the Court's operations. Read more details in the Press Releases below.

Mayor's Courts Operational Schedules

Updated March 16, 2020: Please find below the operational schedules for Mayor's Courts around Franklin County:

  • Gahanna - Cancelled beginning March 20 until May 7th
  • Bexley - cancelled until April 16th
  • Reynoldsburg - cancelled until April 9th
  • Hilliard - cancelled until April 1st
  • Groveport - cancelled until April 13th
  • Upper Arlington - cancelled/closed until April 23rd
  • Pickerington - cancelled until April 6th
  • Dublin - cancelled until May
  • Grandview Heights - cancelled/closed until April 9th
  • Minerva Park - closed until April 15th
  • Baltimore - cancelled until April 21st
  • Whitehall - reassigning cases one month
  • Grove City - open
  • Canal Winchester - closed until April 16th
  • Westerville - pending
  • Obetz - pending

For the most up to date information regarding each Mayor's Courts Operational Schedule, please visit their website for additional details or updates.

Self Help Resource Center

The Franklin County Municipal Court's Self Help Center is tentatively moving to only assisting people online. We have a webchat feature on the Self Help Center website where we plan to answer legal questions and then any other questions that come up that we can help find answers for. (For example, help with accessing unemployment, benefits, etc.)

Please come visit the website! For more information and to chat with the Resource Center, please visit www.fcmcselfhelpcenter.org

Local Rules Notice

Proposed Amendments to Local Court Rules – The Judges of the Franklin County Municipal Court give notice of their intention to amend the local rules of the court to enact rules governing issuance of writs of restitution in cases that resolve through agreed judgment (proposed Loc.R. 9.06(E)).

The full text of the rule amendment can be viewed [ here] .]. Comments regarding this amendment must be submitted to Gene Edwards at the Franklin County Municipal Court, 375 South High Street, 10th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215 or through email at edwardsg@fcmcclerk.com by the close of business on Monday, March 9, 2019.