Judge Jennifer L. Branch
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Case Plan
Pretrial Motion
- Hand Delivery • Upon Filing
Adjournments
- Continuance motions must be written, state the grounds, and be filed at least seven days before trial or hearing; a continuance requires good cause.
- After the parties select a trial date at the DSC, a continuance will not be granted without diligent preparation efforts and unexpected and unavoidable circumstances requiring the change.
- Once set, dispositive-motion briefing, pretrial, and trial dates will not be extended without diligent preparation efforts, unexpected and unavoidable circumstances, and proof of client consent stated in the motion.
- If no defendant has been served 21 days before the CMC, Plaintiff must move to postpone it and explain the planned service efforts and expected service timeframe.
- +1 more
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Document Filing Requirements14 rules
Motions Regarding Bond must be in writing and filed at least ten calendar days before the hearing.
Motions to Continue must be filed in writing at least seven days before the trial or hearing and state the grounds.
Unless otherwise ordered, Counsel and all parties and persons with authority must be present at the FPTC.
A motion shall state in the caption when the motion is unopposed.
- Document
- Motion
- Placement
- Caption
Pretrial Statements are Required in All Trials (Criminal and Civil).
Counsel for the State and the Defendant must file sentencing a memorandum five business days before sentencing in Special Felony, Felony 1, and Felony 2 cases where the parties do not recommend an agreed sentence. The memorandum must address all relevant factors the Court should consider at sentencing.
Motions to modify bond shall be in writing and filed and served on the State at least 10 days in advance of the next scheduled court date so the victim(s), if any, can be notified of the motion.
A Pretrial Statement alerts the Court that the parties are ready for trial and the issues the parties intend to be tried. A Pretrial Statement includes a list of potential witnesses, exhibits, motions in limine, jury instructions not included in OJI, the status of settlement, and any issues unique to the case.
A Pretrial Statement alerts the Court that the parties are ready for trial and the issues the parties intend to be tried. A Pretrial Statement includes a list of potential witnesses, exhibits, motions in limine, jury instructions not included in OJI, the status of settlement, and any issues unique to the case
The parties are to submit Joint Proposed Jury Instructions one week before trial unless otherwise ordered by the Court. Parties are to work together to submit joint jury instructions.
Once Judge Branch sets a bond, all motions to modify the bond conditions must state the changed circumstance necessitating the motion.
- Document
- Bond modification motion
Must include
- •State the changed circumstance necessitating the motion
Plaintiff’s counsel, all counsel, and self-represented litigants must file a Notification Form immediately upon representation, provide direct phone, email, and current mailing address, and file a new form whenever that information changes.
Court's wording
Plaintiff counsel and all counsel and self-represented (pro se) litigants must file a Notification Form immediately upon representation. This form gives the Court and all parties the ability to contact counsel/parties directly. Be sure to include your direct dial phone number and email address as well as current mailing address. File a new Notification Form whenever any contact information changes.
Each party must file a Trial Brief two weeks before a bench trial, in lieu of jury instructions, addressing facts, law, stipulations, and legal issues related to claims, defenses, and remedies.
- Document
- Trial brief
Must include
- •Statement of facts
Court's wording
Each party is required to file a Trial Brief two weeks before the bench trial. A Trial Brief is filed in lieu of jury instructions. Include in the brief: a statement of the facts or proposed findings of fact; a discussion of controlling law or proposed conclusions of law; stipulations; and briefing on legal issues related to claims, defenses, and remedies.
Sentencing memoranda are appreciated in all other cases.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Pretrial motions filed after the stated deadline require the Court’s permission for late filing.
Motions filed after the above deadline must first receive permission from the Court for late filing.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Parties and Pleadings
Bond motions must be filed at least ten calendar days before the hearing.
Motions Regarding Bond must be in writing and filed at least ten calendar days before the hearing.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Parties and Pleadings
Motions to suppress must be filed 35 days after arraignment or seven days before trial, whichever comes first.
Motions to Suppress shall be filed 35 days after arraignment or no later than seven days before trial pursuant to Rule 12(D) of Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure, whichever is earlier.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Parties and Pleadings
All pretrial motions shall be filed no later than 1 week before the final pretrial conference or ________.
All pretrial motions shall be filed no later than 1 week before the final pretrial conference or ________.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Parties and Pleadings
Pretrial Statements must be filed two weeks before the FPTC.
Pretrial Statements are due 2 weeks before the FPTC.
Page 1 | Final Pretrial Conference (FPTC)
Motions in limine must be filed one week before the final pretrial conference; oppositions are due one week later, unless the Court orders otherwise.
Motions in limine are required to be filed one week before the final pretrial conference, and memorandum in opposition are due one week thereafter, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
Page 1 | Criminal Docket — Final Pretrial Conference
The parties must file an Ohio Civil Rule 26(f) case plan no later than five business days before the initial CMC.
No later than 5 business days before the initial CMC, the parties shall file a case plan pursuant to the Ohio R. Civ. Proc. 26(f).
Page 1 | Preparing for the Initial Case Management Conference
Pretrial statements are mandatory in all criminal cases and due two weeks before the Final Pretrial Conference.
Pretrial statements are mandatory in all cases and are due 2 weeks before the Final Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | Criminal Docket — Final Pretrial Conference
For opposed bond modifications, the State is encouraged to file a responsive memorandum at least three business days before the hearing.
When bond modifications are opposed, the State is encouraged to file a responsive memorandum at least three business days before the hearing.
Page 1 | Criminal Docket — Bond
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The plaintiff must complete service on at least one defendant within six months or the case may be dismissed sua sponte for lack of prosecution.
Plaintiff has 6 months to complete service on at least 1 defendant before the case may be dismissed sua sponte for lack of prosecution.
Page 1 | CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL DOCKET CASES
The Prosecutor must notify and confer with all victims before each court date.
The Prosecutor is required to notify and confer with all victims before each court date.
Page 1 | Criminal Docket — Court Dates
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The moving party must hand-deliver a copy of pretrial motions to the Court on the filing date.
The moving party must hand-deliver a copy of pretrial motions to the Court on the date of filing.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Parties and Pleadings
A courtesy copy of the case-plan report must be emailed to the Court’s Staff Attorney.
A courtesy copy of the report shall be emailed to the Court’s Staff Attorney.
Page 1 | Preparing for the Initial Case Management Conference
Filing Bundling Requirements
Since Trial Briefs shall be submitted simultaneously, parties should anticipate the opposing party’s legal issues.
Since Trial Briefs shall be submitted simultaneously, parties should anticipate the opposing party’s legal issues.
Page 1 | All Cases – Civil and Criminal
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuance motions must be written, state the grounds, and be filed at least seven days before trial or hearing; a continuance requires good cause.
Motions to Continue must be filed in writing at least seven days before the trial or hearing and state the grounds. No continuance will be granted without good cause.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Parties and Pleadings
If no defendant has been served 21 days before the CMC, Plaintiff must move to postpone it and explain the planned service efforts and expected service timeframe.
If service on at least 1 defendant has not been accomplished 21 days prior to the CMC, Plaintiff is required to file a motion to postpone the CMC to a date after which service is expected to be accomplished and explain what Plaintiff plans to do to obtain service and how long that service is expected to take.
Page 1 | Case Management Conferences (CMC)
After the parties select a trial date at the DSC, a continuance will not be granted without diligent preparation efforts and unexpected and unavoidable circumstances requiring the change.
Once the parties select the trial date at the DSC, no continuance of the trial date will be granted absent a showing of diligent efforts to prepare the case and the occurrence of unexpected and unavoidable circumstances requiring the change.
Page 1 | Criminal Docket — Case Scheduling Order
Once set, dispositive-motion briefing, pretrial, and trial dates will not be extended without diligent preparation efforts, unexpected and unavoidable circumstances, and proof of client consent stated in the motion.
Once set, the dispositive motion briefing dates, pretrial conference, and trial dates WILL NOT BE EXTENDED absent a showing of diligent efforts to prepare the case, the occurrence of unexpected and unavoidable circumstances requiring the change, and proof of the client’s consent. This means the moving party/parties must affirmatively state in the motion to continue that their client(s) consents to the filing of the motion.
Page 1 | Case Scheduling Order
Unopposed extensions that do not change the dispositive-motion deadline, final pretrial conference, or trial date will routinely be granted.
Unopposed motions for extensions of time will routinely be granted when the extension does not change the dispositive motion deadline, final pretrial conference, or the trial date.
Page 1 | Motion for Extensions of time
Chambers Communication Rules
Do not contact court staff by social media, text, or phone about pending matters.
Communications with court staff on social media, text, or phone about matters pending before the Court are not permitted.
Page 1 | All Cases – Civil and Criminal
Ex parte communications with the Judge and staff are prohibited, subject to stated exceptions; email is preferred and must include all attorneys and unrepresented parties.
Ex parte communications with the Judge and her Staff are prohibited unless all parties consent or the matter involves being late to court, directions, or videoconferencing technical assistance. The preferred method of communication with court staff is email and you must include all attorneys and unrepresented parties on each email.
Page 1 | All Cases – Civil and Criminal
Once a motion has been ripe for more than 60 days, please email Court staff that a motion remains pending and copy all parties.
Once a motion has been ripe for more than 60 days, please email Court staff that a motion remains pending and copy all parties.
Page 1 | All Cases – Civil and Criminal
Before the jury trial date, parties may email the Court’s Bailiff, copying all counsel, to determine the case’s docket status.
Please email the Court’s Bailiff (and copy all counsel) prior to the jury trial date to determine the status of your case on the docket.
Page 1 | Criminal Docket — Jury Trials
Counsel may email the Staff Attorney, copying all counsel, to alert the Court that a pending motion needs a prompt ruling.
Counsel may email the Staff Attorney (and copy all counsel) to alert the Court when a motion is pending that needs a prompt ruling.
Page 1 | Motion for Extensions of time
Parties may email the Staff Attorney before trial to inquire about the case’s status on the docket.
You are welcome to email the staff attorney before the trial date to inquire of the status of your case on the docket.
Page 1 | Jury and Bench Trials
The moving party may email Court staff when an unopposed motion is ripe for decision.
The moving party is permitted to email Court staff when an unopposed motion is ripe for decision.
Page 1 | All Cases – Civil and Criminal