Lucas County Courthouse
The
Lucas County Court of Common Pleas is the trial court of general jurisdiction,
meaning it hears felony cases as well as civil disputes where the amount
in controversy exceeds $500 and has exclusive jurisdiction over civil
cases exceeding $10,000.Ten judges currently serve in the general division
and as a part of their judicial office conduct pretrials, schedule deadlines,
rule on motions, and hear both jury and bench trials. In jury trials,
jurors decide the facts after the judge instructs them on the applicable
law. In bench trials, the judge determines both the facts and law to be
applied. For each judge, two bailiffs handle administrative matters, a
staff attorney assists with legal research and a court reporter takes
a verbatim record of all official matters heard by the judge.