Ohio Courts of Appeals
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The courts of appeals are established by Article IV, Section 1 of the Ohio Constitution, and their jurisdiction is
outlined in Article IV, Section 3. As intermediate level appellate courts, their primary function is to hear appeals
from the common pleas, municipal and county courts. Each case is heard and decided by a three-judge panel.
The state is divided into twelve appellate districts by Article IV, section 3 of the Ohio Constitution and section 2501.01 of the Revised Code. Each district is served by a court of appeals that sits in each of the counties in that district. The number of judges in each district depends on a variety of factors, including the court's caseload and the size of the district. The number of judges in each district varies from four to twelve.
In addition to their appellate jurisdiction, the courts of appeals have original jurisdiction, as does the Supreme Court, to hear applications for writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, procedendo, prohibition and quo warranto. The Tenth District Court of Appeals in Franklin County also hears appeals from the Ohio Court of Claims.
As of 2002, there are 68 court of appeals judges. Court of appeals judges are elected in even-numbered years to six-year terms on a nonpartisan ballot. Appellate judges must be attorneys with at least six years of experience in the practice of law. The Governor makes appointments to fill vacancies in courts of appeals that occur between elections.