The Court of Common Pleas is the original trial court created by Art. 4, Section I of the Ohio Constitution, and as codified in R.C. 2301.01. There is a Court of Common Pleas in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. In Ohio, the Common Pleas Court is divided into five subject-matter divisions; three of these divisions are delegated to the General Division in Darke County. In the Civil Division, the Court possesses original jurisdiction to hear all cases regardless of the dollar amount in controversy, including matters involving contracts, personal injury, business issues, real estate, and foreclosures. The Court also has the authority to issue injunctions and certain legal writs. The Court has appellate jurisdiction over decisions of some state and local administrative agencies, boards and commissions.

In the Criminal Division, the Court also possesses original jurisdiction to hear all adult felony criminal cases and also presides over the Darke County Grand Jury, which has the power to hand down indictments in criminal cases. The Court operates the Probation Department, which supervises those criminal defendants placed on community control as part of their sentence.

In the Domestic Relations Division, the Court presides over cases involving divorce, dissolution, child custody, visitation and support and other family matters.

Common Pleas judges are elected to 6-year terms on a nonpartisan ballot. The Governor makes appointments to fill vacancies in Courts of Common Pleas that occur between elections.

Brittany M. Johns currently serves as Magistrate for the Common Pleas Court. She is primarily responsible for the Domestic Relations docket, including hearings on divorce dissolution complaints and determinations of child custody, child support and parenting time motions. Magistrate Johns also has duties on the Criminal docket to conduct initial appearances, arraignments and bail hearings.