Defiance County Home Page

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Defiance Municipal Court

3rd District Court of Appeals

Ohio Supreme Court

Local Court Rules

Defiance County Common Pleas Court hears cases involving such matters as real estate, personal injury, breach of contract, marital conflicts, and business relationships.  This is also the court that hears all criminal felony cases, since municipal and county courts are limited to misdemeanor offenses.  The common pleas court also has the authority to hear administrative appeals from municipal and county agencies.

The geographical boundaries of municipal, county and mayor's courts are regulated by statute, but the common pleas court has countywide jurisdiction.  Because this jurisdiction is established by the Ohio Constitution, its boundaries cannot be changed without a constitutional amendment.

Defiance County Common Pleas Court also has a domestic relations division which hears only marital disputes that consist of actions for divorce, dissolution, annulment, legal separation and child custody, as well as support for spouses and children.  A juvenile court also may be a division of the common pleas court or of that court's probate division or domestic relations division.

Common Pleas Court Judges are elected for a six year term.  The current Judge for the Common Pleas Court is Joseph N. Schmenk.

Biography of Judge Joseph N. Schmenk
Defiance County Municipal Court Judge from 1988-1990.
Defiance County Common Pleas Court Judge (General Division) from 1990-present.
Officer of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association from 1995-present.
Member of the Ohio Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee 1999-present.