United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
About This Court
Located in the Sixth Circuit, the Southern District of Ohio covers the southern half of Ohio and includes major metropolitan areas such as Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton. The district is one of two federal judicial districts in Ohio, with the Northern District handling the northern portion of the state. Columbus serves as the seat of Ohio state government and is the most populous city in the district, contributing significantly to the court's docket.
The district handles a broad range of civil and criminal matters arising from its geographically and economically diverse territory, which includes urban centers, suburban communities, and rural areas. Federal agencies, large corporations, and public institutions headquartered in Columbus and Cincinnati generate substantial civil litigation. The court operates under the rules and precedent of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
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, Southern District of Ohio. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Divisions
Columbus Division (Columbus), Cincinnati Division (Cincinnati), Dayton Division (Dayton)
Caseload
The court handles a high volume of civil cases including federal agency matters, intellectual property disputes, and complex commercial litigation, in part due to the presence of major corporations and the state government in Columbus. Criminal cases include drug trafficking, fraud, and public corruption matters.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to the bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to practice before the court, which generally requires active membership in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court or another state bar. Admission procedures and pro hac vice requirements are set forth in the court's local rules.
Clerk's Office
85 Marconi Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 719-3000
Active Judges 16
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Barrett | George W. Bush | 2006 | University of Cincinnati College of Law |
| Sandra Beckwith | George H.W. Bush | 1992 | University of Cincinnati College of Law |
| Timothy Black | Barack Obama | 2010 | Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law |
| Douglas Cole | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | University of Chicago Law School |
| Susan Dlott | William J. Clinton | 1995 | Boston University School of Law |
| James Graham | Ronald Reagan | 1986 | Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law) |
| Jeffery Hopkins | Joseph R. Biden | 2022 | Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law) |
| Algenon Marbley | William J. Clinton | 1997 | Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law) |
| Matthew McFarland | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | Capital University Law School |
| Sarah Morrison | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | Capital University Law School |
| Michael Newman | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | American University, Washington College of Law |
| Walter Rice | Jimmy Carter | 1980 | Columbia Law School |
| Thomas Rose | George W. Bush | 2002 | University of Cincinnati College of Law |
| Edmund Sargus | William J. Clinton | 1996 | Case Western Reserve University School of Law |
| Michael Watson | George W. Bush | 2004 | Capital University Law School |
| Herman Weber | Ronald Reagan | 1985 | Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law) |
Local Rules
The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.