An official County of Ohio site:
Official websites use
Cuyahogacounty.gov

A Cuyahogacounty.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Cuyahoga County of Ohio.

Secure .us or .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the government website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

The .gov means it's official.

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States

About Us

The mission of the Eighth District Court of Appeals is to provide an impartial and accessible forum where appeals and original actions are timely and fairly decided under the law.

With jurisdiction over Cuyahoga County, the Eighth Appellate District is the largest and one of the busiest appellate courts in Ohio. Randomly assigned, its twelve judges sit on three-judge panels. Weekly, nine or more cases are allocated to each panel for review. Each judge reads the briefs filed by the parties, reviews the lower court record, and with the aid of legal staff, conducts research on the issues presented.

Oral arguments are primarily scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, most weeks throughout the year, with each side given 15 minutes to present its case. Twenty-seven or more cases are scheduled for hearing in three courtrooms, all of which are open to the public. The court calendar contains a schedule for upcoming hearings. Following oral arguments, the judges conference the cases. One of the judges is randomly selected to write an opinion, which states the ruling of the panel and contains an analysis of the legal issues and the reasons underlying the decision. If one of the judges on the panel does not agree with the decision, he or she may write a dissenting opinion, which is released with that of the majority. Opinions are released weekly, generally on Thursdays.

A party dissatisfied with a decision may appeal it to the Ohio Supreme Court. However, unlike an appeals court that accepts every case, the Ohio Supreme Court generally has the discretion to accept or decline an appeal. On average, the Supreme Court accepts only about ten percent of those cases. As a result, the Eighth District Appellate Court is the court of last resort for the majority of civil and criminal litigants in Cuyahoga County.

The Main Courtroom of the Eighth Appellate District, located on the second floor off the Great Hall of the Cuyahoga County Court House, is one of the most impressive in Ohio. Completed in 1912, it has remained virtually unchanged and retains a timeless elegance. Visitors are welcome between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm except when the Court is in session. Occasionally tours will meet the judges who are always delighted to answer questions about the court and its history.


Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement:

The Eighth District Court of Appeals aspires to create a professional environment that fosters a sense of belonging and access to justice for all. The court actively works to eradicate bias and discrimination through an engaged DEI committee, promotion of the full and equal access to the Court and the justice system, and internal education, training, and team-building initiatives. The Court strives to hold itself accountable to ensure that all voices are heard, perspectives considered, and individuals respected within our community and through our public service.


Judges

Court Administration

Eighth District Court of Appeals
Phone
216-443-6350

Location
1 W. Lakeside Avenue, #202
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Hours Of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.
Additional Resources

Conference and Staff Attorneys

The Conference Attorneys, who have offices on the first floor of the Cuyahoga County Court House, conduct the Appellate Court's Prehearing Conference Program established in 1991. The program is designed to settle civil cases before the parties in pending appeals incur the expense and time required to bring the dispute to oral argument and judicial decision.

The Staff Attorneys, who have offices of the second floor of the Cuyahoga County Court House, conduct legal research, prepare legal memoranda, assist the Judges on a wide range of legal subjects, and respond to inquiries by attorneys and litigants on court procedure.

Conference Attorneys

Staff Attorneys