Section 2301.04. Temporary location of division in event of emergency

(A) In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, civil disorder, or any extraordinary circumstance that interrupts or threatens to interrupt the orderly operation of a division of a court of common pleas within the territorial jurisdiction of the division, the administrative judge of the division may issue an order authorizing the division to operate at a temporary location inside or outside the territorial jurisdiction of the division. The order shall identify the temporary location at which the division shall operate and the date on which operations shall commence at the temporary location. The division shall operate at the temporary location until the administrative judge withdraws, cancels, or rescinds the order.

(B) The authority of an administrative judge of a division of a court of common pleas to issue an order authorizing the division to operate at a temporary location pursuant to division (A) of this section is independent of and shall not be conditioned upon a declaration of a judicial emergency issued by the chief justice of the supreme court pursuant to Rule 14 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.

(C) For the period during which a division of a court of common pleas operates in a temporary location pursuant to division (A) of this section, the division shall continue to have the territorial jurisdiction set forth in section 2301.01 of the Revised Code and the court shall have jurisdiction to hear actions and conduct proceedings the same as if the division were operating within that territorial jurisdiction.

(D) As soon as practicable following issuance of an order pursuant to division (A) of this section, both of the following shall occur:

(1) The administrative judge of the division of the court of common pleas shall provide notice and a copy of the order by regular or electronic mail to all of the following:

(a) The chief justice and administrative director of the supreme court;

(b) The legislative authorities of the local funding authorities of the court;

(c) All appropriate law enforcement agencies, prosecuting authorities, public defender agencies, and local bar associations within the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

(2) If the division operates and maintains a web site, the web site shall provide notification of the operation of the division at the temporary location, including the site of the temporary location and the date on which operations shall commence at the temporary location.

(E) As soon as practicable following the withdrawal, cancellation, or rescission of an order issued pursuant to division (A) of this section, each of the following shall occur:

(1) The administrative judge of the division of the court of common pleas shall provide notice by regular or electronic mail to all of the following:

(a) The chief justice and administrative director of the supreme court;

(b) The legislative authorities of the local funding authorities of the court;

(c) All appropriate law enforcement agencies, prosecuting authorities, public defender agencies, and local bar associations within the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

(2) If the division operates and maintains a web site, the web site shall provide notification of the operation of the division at the permanent location of the division, including the site of the permanent location and the date on which operations shall commence at the permanent location.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 290, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.