Attorneys engaged in civil or criminal practice before this court shall be registered with the Clerk of Court.  Said registrations shall be kept in permanent volumes and shall include: the signature of trial counsel, counsel’s printed name, counsel’s office address with zip code, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, and counsel’s Supreme Court of Ohio Bar Registration Number.  Attorneys are requested to provide the Clerk of Court with any changes of address or telephone number.

Attorneys practicing before this court, and not parties (except for pro se litigants), shall designate their capacity as trial counsel on all pleadings, motions, petitions, etc., filed in this court.  All such documents shall bear, in addition to the signature of trial counsel: counsel’s name, office address with zip code, office telephone number and fax number, as well as counsel’s Supreme Court of Ohio Bar Registration Number.  A law firm shall not be designated as trial counsel.

An attorney making an initial appearance on behalf of a criminal defendant before any judge or magistrate of this court shall provide his or her name and Supreme Court of Ohio Bar Registration Number for the record and inclusion in the case file.

Once counsel has been designated, such designation shall remain until termination of the case.  A request to change counsel must be made by written motion and submitted to the court accompanied by an entry containing the designation of new counsel, and where possible, the agreement of retiring counsel.  Change of counsel may be permitted only by the judge assigned to the case upon good cause shown.

1. Counsel shall be allowed to withdraw from counsel responsibilities, in cases where counsel was designated, with the consent of the judge assigned to the case.
2. In the absence of judicial assignment, or in the absence of the assigned judge, the motion to withdraw shall be made to the administrative judge.
3. No such application shall be considered unless:
   1. a written motion is presented stating the reasons for the application
   2. the motion contains certification of service on opposing counsel and on the client
   3. the motion states the date and time of the next scheduled court action (pretrial, motion hearing, trial, etc.) if any has been set
   4. the motion contains counsel’s statement that if the request is allowed, a copy of the journal entry granting the request will be mailed immediately to the last known address of the client
   5. the motion is filed seven (7) calendar days prior to the hearing date or such shorter period as the court may allow
4. If the judge assigned to a case finds Rule 41(B) of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio applicable, the assigned judge shall refer such matter to the administrative judge for determination.

Rule 41 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio shall be strictly adhered to.  All requests for continuances must be filed seven (7) calendar days prior to the trial or hearing date.  The seven (7) days shall not include the trial or hearing date.

Litigants not represented by an attorney licensed in the State of Ohio (or an attorney licensed in another state but granted permission to represent a litigant before this court) shall be designated pro se.  Pro se litigants shall designate this capacity on all pleadings, motions, petitions, etc., filed in this court, and include: their name, signature, address with zip code, email address, and relevant telephone numbers.

A poverty affidavit filed with the Clerk of Court in lieu of a cash deposit must state the reasons for the inability to prepay costs and is subject to Court review at any stage of the proceedings.