Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to seal

Must include

proposed order

A motion to seal must be accompanied by a proposed entry.

Counsel requesting the sealing of a document or documents or case file shall file a motion and shall submit a proposed entry and provide a courtesy copy of the motion to the trial Judge.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

Complaints filed with the Clerk must include an original and a copy for each party being served.

For all Complaints, an original and one copy for each party being served must be filed with the Clerk of Courts.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Motions filed with the Clerk must include an original and one copy for scheduling purposes.

For all motions, an original and one copy for scheduling purposes must be filed with the Clerk of Courts.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Filed document

Attorneys must include their Ohio Supreme Court attorney or pro hac vice registration number on every document filed with the Court.

All attorneys shall include their attorney or pro hac vice registration number issued by the Ohio Supreme Court on all documents filed with the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Non oral motion

Must include

proposed order

Every non-oral motion must include a proposed judgment entry suitable for use if the motion is granted.

Every non-oral motion filed with the Court shall be accompanied by a proposed judgment entry suitable for use if the motion is granted.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint or third party complaint

When electronically filing a Complaint or Third-Party Complaint, the filing party must also file service instructions, and the Clerk will issue a Summons and serve the pleading according to those instructions.

When any Complaint or Third-Party Complaint is submitted for electronic filing, the filing party shall also file instructions for service and the Clerk shall issue a Summons and serve the Complaint or Third-Party Complaint according to such instructions.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to seal

Must include

caption, case number

A motion to seal must identify the specific case number and caption of the material and state the specific reason for sealing.

The motion shall contain: (1) the specific case number and caption of the document(s) or case file that is the subject of the request to be sealed; and (2) a statement of the specific reason for the request.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Jury instructions

Parties must file issue-specific proposed jury instructions and proposed jury interrogatories no later than seven days before trial.

Parties must file proposed jury instructions specific to the issues for trial as well as proposed jury interrogatories no later than the seven (7) days prior to trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Jury instructions

Parties must email the proposed instructions and interrogatories in Word format to the Judge’s Assignment Commissioner no later than seven days before trial.

The parties must also e-mail the Judge’s Assignment Commissioner the proposed instructions and interrogatories in Word format no later than seven (7) days prior to trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Jury instructions

Written jury instructions presented under Civ. R. 51 or Crim. R. 30 must include citations to relevant authority unless the Court excuses the requirement.

When written jury instructions are presented to the Court pursuant to Civ. R. 51 or Crim. R. 30 by a party, they shall be accompanied by a citation of the relevant authority, unless excused by the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Default judgment motion

A motion for default judgment must be accompanied by an affidavit supporting the requested judgment.

Motions for default judgment shall be accompanied by an affidavit in support of the requested judgment.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Default judgment motion

For a default judgment based on an account or other written instrument, the moving party must comply with Civil Rule 10(D) before judgment may be granted.

In cases based upon an account or other written instrument, the moving party must comply with Civ. R. 10(D) before default judgment will be granted.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pretrial statement

Trial counsel for each party must file a pretrial statement at least seven days before the pretrial conference unless the trial Judge or Magistrate orders otherwise.

At least seven (7) days prior to the pretrial conference, unless otherwise ordered by the trial Judge or Magistrate, trial counsel for each of the parties shall file a pretrial statement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pretrial statement

Unless otherwise ordered, each pretrial statement must address the listed matters as appropriate, including expert witnesses and reports, damages, and other matters affecting trial.

Unless otherwise ordered, each pretrial statement shall contain a statement from trial counsel covering those of the following items as are appropriate to the pending litigation: (1) the status of discovery; (2) the status of settlement negotiations; (3) the names of those who will be testifying as experts, and a copy of each expert’s written report or a summary of the expert’s reports, where no written report is available to counsel, shall be furnished to opposing counsel prior the pretrial as set forth in the trial Judge’s or Magistrate’s pretrial order; (4) a listing of special damages and claims for lost wages; and (5) other matters which trial counsel feel may aid in, or affect the trial of the cause, including, but not limited to, a request for a view of the scene, any anticipated delays due to the scheduling of witnesses, stipulations.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial exhibits

Unless otherwise ordered, counsel must prepare and present at the final pretrial all existing exhibits they expect to introduce at trial.

Unless otherwise ordered by the trial Judge or Magistrate: (1) at the time of the final pretrial counsel shall prepare and present all exhibits in existence which counsel expects to introduce during the trial of the case.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial exhibits

All exhibits to be used at trial must be exchanged no later than two days before trial begins.

All exhibits to be used are to be exchanged no later than two days prior to the commencement of trial at the latest;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial exhibits

Each party’s counsel must prepare exhibit sets for the Court, witnesses, and counsel for the other parties.

each party’s counsel shall prepare a set of exhibits for the Court, for use with witnesses, and for the counsel of the other parties involved in the trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Expense report

Appointed counsel must submit a report stating the expense’s purpose and approximate amount and obtain a court order approving it before incurring the expense.

Appointed counsel in criminal cases shall not incur expenses in the investigation or preparation of their case until they have first submitted to the Court a report disclosing the purpose of the expense, the approximate amount of such expense, and secured the Court’s approval by way of an Order therefore.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Application for extraordinary or excessive fees

Applications for extraordinary or excessive fees require prior court approval to be approved.

Applications for extraordinary or excessive fees without prior court approval shall not be approved.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery certification

A certification stating that discovery has been provided must be filed with the Court.

A certification to the Court that discovery has been provided shall be filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Continuance request

A request to continue a trial date must include an irrevocable and unconditional time waiver signed by the Defendant.

Request for continuances of a trial date shall be accompanied by an irrevocable and unconditional time waiver signed by the Defendant.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Stipulation or agreement

Stipulations and agreements must be written and signed by the parties or their counsel, or made in open court and dictated to the court reporter, to be recognized if disputed.

Stipulations and agreements of counsel or parties to the case must be reduced to writing and signed by the parties to the case or their respective counsel or made in open court and dictated to the court reporter; otherwise, any such stipulations or agreements shall not be recognized by the Court if disputed by any of the parties.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial exhibits

Defense and State counsel must meet and mark all exhibits intended for trial before the time set for trial.

Prior to the time set for trial it will be the obligation of counsel for the defense and of counsel for the State to meet and to mark all exhibits intended to be introduced for trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial exhibit list

Each party must provide the Court with a list of its intended trial exhibits before trial begins.

A list of exhibits a party intends to introduce shall be provided to the Court prior to the commencement of trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Application for approval as indigent criminal defense counsel

The application must list post-law-school training for criminal representation, including seminars, and the year each training took place.

List any formal post-law school training for criminal representation (including seminars). Include the year in which the formal training took place:

CRITICAL

Applies to

Application for approval as indigent criminal defense counsel

The application must estimate the number of criminal defendants represented and their offense types, and state whether a case went to an evidentiary hearing, motion, court trial, or jury trial.

Estimate the number of criminal defendants, along with the types of offenses, you have represented (we recognize that for some of you, this will be a very rough estimate). State if case went to evidentiary hearing (motion, court or jury trial, etc.):

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case document

Parties must omit personal identifiers from case documents submitted to or filed with the court.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: PURSUANT TO O.R.C. 2303.901(B) WHEN SUBMITTING A CASE DOCUMENT TO THE COURT OR FILING A CASE DOCUMENT WITH THE CLERK OF COURT, A PARTY TO AN ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL OMIT PERSONAL IDENTIFIERS FROM THE CASE DOCUMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 45 OF THE RULES OF SUPERINTENDENCE FOR THE COURTS OF OHIO.

WARNING

Applies to

Entry

The Court may direct a party to prepare an entry, and the party must prepare it as directed.

The Court may also direct a party to prepare an entry. A party directed by the Court to prepare an entry shall do so as directed by the Court.

WARNING

Applies to

Entry

Submit only one original entry; the Court will make necessary copies after a Judge signs it.

Only one original entry is to be submitted, the Court will make necessary copies after the entry is signed by a Judge.

WARNING

Applies to

Video deposition transcript

A video deposition transcript may be prepared by someone other than a court reporter if counsel certifies its accuracy.

The video deposition may be transcribed by someone other than a court reporter as long as it is accompanied by a certification from counsel as to its accuracy.

WARNING

Applies to

Trial exhibits

Trial counsel must list expected trial exhibits that are not in counsel’s possession.

Trial counsel shall list all those exhibits not in counsel’s possession which counsel expects to introduce at trial;

WARNING

Applies to

Trial exhibits

Trial counsel should mark anticipated exhibits; plaintiffs are to use numbers and defendants letters.

each trial counsel should mark their anticipated exhibits. Plaintiffs shall use numbers and defendants shall use letters;

INFO

Applies to

Trial exhibits

Counsel should present anticipated exhibits to opposing counsel as early as possible to avoid duplication or trial delays over admissibility.

counsel should present their anticipated exhibits to opposing counsel as early as possible so as to avoid duplicative exhibits or delay of trial for arguments related to admissibility.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Motion brief or memorandum ?

Whether or not generated in whole or in part by Artificial Intelligence, all motions, briefs, memoranda, etc. containing citations to authority shall be certified by counsel that the citations are accurate. The verification shall be attached to the end of the motion, brief, memoranda, etc.

Summary: Counsel must certify the accuracy of citations in motions, briefs, and memoranda, including AI-generated material, and attach the verification at the end of the document.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Entry

All submitted entries must include a list of all attorneys and unrepresented parties who are to receive a copy of the docketed entry from the Clerk of Court’s office. The listing must appear on the left side of the page below the signature block but aligned with the left margin.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Video deposition transcript ?

At least seven (7) days prior to the final pretrial conference, counsel shall file a typed transcript of any video deposition, and counsel will send notice of filing to all counsel of record.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Affidavit in support of motion to proceed in forma pauperis ?

INSTRUCTIONS: In order for the Court to properly consider your motion, you must answer each question below and provide the information requested. No motion will be considered until it is fully completed. If necessary, attach additional pages.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Application for approval as indigent criminal defense counsel ?

List any professional associations affiliated with, with regards to criminal defense: