United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

6th Circuit Cleveland, Ohio

About This Court

The Northern District of Ohio is a federal trial court within the Sixth Circuit, covering the northern portion of Ohio. The district encompasses major metropolitan areas including Cleveland, Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown, along with surrounding counties stretching from the Pennsylvania border to the Indiana border along Lake Erie.

The district is divided into two divisions, the Eastern Division based in Cleveland and the Western Division based in Toledo. Cleveland serves as the primary seat and houses the main clerk's office. The court handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising under federal law within its geographic boundaries.

As one of the busier federal districts in the Sixth Circuit, the Northern District of Ohio has historically seen significant commercial litigation, labor disputes, and criminal cases, reflecting the industrial and economic character of the region.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Divisions

Eastern Division (Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown), Western Division (Toledo)

Caseload

The Northern District of Ohio carries a substantial docket that includes significant commercial, labor, and employment litigation tied to the region's industrial base, as well as federal criminal cases involving drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The court has also been a venue for notable multidistrict litigation proceedings.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Northern District of Ohio by applying to the court and meeting its local admission requirements, which include good standing in at least one state bar. Admission to the Ohio bar alone does not automatically confer admission to practice in the district.

Clerk's Office

801 West Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113

(216) 357-7000

Active Judges 19

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
John Adams	George W. Bush	2003	University of Akron School of Law
Pamela Barker	Donald J. Trump	2019	Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law)
Christopher Boyko	George W. Bush	2004	Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Bridget Brennan	Joseph R. Biden	2022	Case Western Reserve University School of Law
J. Calabrese	Donald J. Trump	2020	Harvard Law School
James Carr	William J. Clinton	1994	Harvard Law School
Peter Economus	William J. Clinton	1995	University of Akron School of Law
Charles Fleming	Joseph R. Biden	2022	Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Patricia Gaughan	William J. Clinton	1995	Notre Dame Law School
James Gwin	William J. Clinton	1997	University of Akron School of Law
Jeffrey Helmick	Barack Obama	2012	Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law)
James Knepp	Donald J. Trump	2020	University of Toledo College of Law
Sara Lioi	George W. Bush	2007	Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law)
Donald Nugent	William J. Clinton	1995	Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Solomon Oliver	William J. Clinton	1994	New York University School of Law
Benita Pearson	Barack Obama	2010	Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Dan Polster	William J. Clinton	1998	Harvard Law School
David Ruiz	Joseph R. Biden	2022	Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law)
Jack Zouhary	George W. Bush	2006	University of Toledo College of Law

Local Rules

The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 80

Rule	Title
Rule 1.1	Scope and Citation
Rule 1.2	Definitions
Rule 3.1	Assignment of Cases; Related Cases, Refiled, Dismissed and Remanded Cases
Rule 3.2	Procedure for Assignment of Cases
Rule 3.3	Categories of Civil Cases
Rule 3.4	Preparation of Assignment Decks
Rule 3.5	Duties of the Clerk as to Case Assignments
Rule 3.6	Assignments to Senior Judges
Rule 3.7	Reassignment of Matters to Active Judges
Rule 3.8	Venue of Actions Within the District
Rule 3.9	Place of Holding Court
Rule 3.10	Miscellaneous Docket
Rule 3.11	Unavailability of District Judge -- Urgent Cases
Rule 3.12	Fees and Deposits for Costs
Rule 3.13	Commencement of Action
Rule 3.14	Procedure as to Initial Papers
Rule 3.15	In Forma Pauperis Cases
Rule 4.1	Service of Actions Filed In Forma Pauperis
Rule 4.2	Service of Process
Rule 5.1	Filing by Facsimile or Electronic Means
Rule 5.2	Filing Documents Under Seal
Rule 7.1	Motions
Rule 7.2	Dispositive Motions
Rule 7.3	Ruling on Motions
Rule 8.1	General Rules of Pleading
Rule 9.1	Social Security and Black Lung Cases
Rule 10.1	General Format of Documents Presented for Filing
Rule 10.2	Designation of District Judge and/or Magistrate Judge
Rule 16.1	Differentiated Case Management
Rule 16.2	Tracks and Evaluation of Cases
Rule 16.3	Track Assignment and Case Management Conference
Rule 16.3.1	Review of Decisions by the Commissioner of Social Security
Rule 16.4	Alternative Dispute Resolution
Rule 16.5	Early Neutral Evaluation (E.N.E.)
Rule 16.6	Mediation
Rule 16.7	Other ADR Procedures
Rule 23.1	Class Actions
Rule 24.1	Procedure for Notification of Any Claim of Unconstitutionality
Rule 26.1	Discovery - General
Rule 30.1	Conduct at Depositions
Rule 32.1	Videotape Depositions
Rule 37.1	Discovery Disputes
Rule 37.2	Form of Discovery Motions
Rule 38.1	Notation of Jury Demand in the Pleading
Rule 39.1	Models, Exhibits, Etc.
Rule 39.2	Video and Telephone Conferences, Trials and Hearings
Rule 47.1	Venire Selection
Rule 47.2	Jury Questionnaires
Rule 47.3	Voir Dire of Jurors
Rule 47.4	Jury Selection
Rule 48.1	Number of Jurors
Rule 48.2	Juror Note-Taking
Rule 48.3	Jury Charge
Rule 54.1	Assessment of Jury Costs
Rule 65.1.1	Security; Proceedings Against Sureties
Rule 66.1	Receiverships
Rule 67.1	Deposits
Rule 67.2	Disbursements
Rule 69.1	Preparation of Documents
Rule 72.1	Duties of United States Magistrate Judges
Rule 72.2	Assignment and Referral of Matters to Magistrate Judges
Rule 72.3	Review and Appeal
Rule 72.4	Appeals from Other Orders of a Magistrate Judge
Rule 73.1	Conduct of Trials and Disposition of Civil Cases by Magistrate Judges Upon Consent of the Parties - 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)
Rule 73.2	Appeal from Judgments in Civil Cases Disposed of by Magistrate Judge on Consent of the Parties - 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)
Rule 77.1	Hours for Filing
Rule 79.1	Withdrawal of Paper
Rule 80.1	Orders for Transcripts from Official Court Reporters
Rule 83.10	Assignment of Pro Bono Counsel
Supplemental Rule C.1	Publication
Supplemental Rule E.1	Property in Possession of Officer or Employee of the United States
Supplemental Rule E.2	Summary Release from Arrest or Attachment
Supplemental Rule E.3	Security
Supplemental Rule E.4	Appraisement and Appraisers
Supplemental Rule E.5	Sale
Supplemental Rule E.6	Custody of Vessel
Supplemental Rule E.7	Accounting by Marshal
Supplemental Rule E.8	Claims After Sale, How Limited
Supplemental Rule F.1	Election to Transfer Owner's Interest in Vessel to a Trustee
Supplemental Rule F.2	Complaint Seeking Appraisement

General Rules 5

Rule	Title
Rule 83.1	Photography, Recording, and Broadcasting
Rule 83.2	Duties of Court Personnel
Rule 83.3	Courtroom and Courthouse Decorum
Rule 83.4	Security in the Courthouse
Rule 83.8	Judicial Misconduct and Disability

Attorney Rules 4

Rule	Title
Rule 83.5	Admission of Attorneys to Practice in the Northern District of Ohio
Rule 83.6	Appearance and Practice by Law Students
Rule 83.7	Professional Conduct and Attorney Discipline
Rule 83.9	Withdrawal of Counsel

Other Courts in the 6th Circuit

Eastern District of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Eastern District of Michigan Detroit, Michigan Eastern District of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Middle District of Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee Southern District of Ohio Columbus, Ohio Western District of Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky Western District of Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan Western District of Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee