Hamilton County Municipal Court

Court Information

If you have been charged with a criminal misdemeanor or a traffic ticket, your case will likely be heard in Hamilton County Municipal Court. Besides the Municipal Court, you can also find the Small Claims Court, Common Pleas Court, and Clerk of Courts offices.

If your case goes to trial, you will go before one of 14 judges who work in Hamilton County Municipal Court. There are also a number of magistrates, who may oversee various hearings.

Tips to Minimize Stress at Hamilton County Municipal Court

Whether this is your first time in court or a repeat experience, this process is never easy or stress-free. To help prepare you for what’s ahead, we’ve gathered some tips that should help you on the day of.

• Do some research on where to park – and arrive early. It can be hard to find parking in downtown Cincinnati, especially around the courthouse. Be sure to plan ahead and arrive early to find parking. You should also be prepared to pay $5-12 for parking in lots and garages downtown.
• Arrive early to the courthouse. Plan to step foot in the courthouse at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduling court appearance so you can pass through security without being late.
• Leave weapons and metal accessories at home. If you bring a weapon to the courthouse, security will retain your weapon until you plan to depart the courthouse. It will also take longer for you to get through security if you have a lot of items in your pocket, especially metal. We advise that you keep heavy belt buckles and metal accessories to a minimum.
• Know that being late for your court appearance may lead to a bench warrant for your arrest. Many times, a judge will issue a capias – a warrant for your arrest – if you show up late. It may seem unfair if you are running late. If for some reason you cannot make it to your court appearance, contact the court immediately.
• Double check which courtroom you need. You can confirm this by checking the docket.

Cincinnati Criminal Defense for Your Hamilton County Case

Getting charged with a Cincinnati DUI or a crime that entails even greater penalties can be extremely stressful. You’re probably wondering what will happen to you and if you will have to go to jail. One thing you should know? There is always something that can be done to improve your legal situation when you hire an experienced Cincinnati criminal defense lawyer.

You might be wondering what a lawyer can do for you. Here are some of the responsibilities a defense attorney has in representing you:

• Listen to your side of the story and prepare a strong defense against the State
• Expose weaknesses in the evidence against you and file motions to suppress evidence wrongfully and illegally obtained
• Negotiate on your behalf with the prosecutors
• Prepare for and aggressively defend you in a trial
• Ensure you are fully aware of your legal options and answer questions you may have

Having an experienced criminal attorney on your side can make a difference in whether you go to jail or not or whether your case moves to trial or not. Cincinnati criminal defense lawyer Brad Groene has years of experience defending clients charged with crimes in Hamilton County.

To learn how Brad can help, call today for a free and confidential legal consultation at (513) 338-1890. We are available 24/7 to take your call.

Is your court date coming up soon? Don’t delay. Call (513) 338-1890 so we can get started with your free initial case evaluation and start the process of defending your rights.

If you miss your court date, a judge may issue a bench warrant (capias) for your arrest, and police will take you into custody and charge you with failure to appear. Once a capias has been issued, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be notified and your driver’s license and vehicle registration will be blocked. If you or someone you know has been arrested on a failure to appear charge, we can still help.