Articles - Sharon L. Kennedy

Justice Sharon L. Kennedy addressed the Rotary Club of Beavercreek on April 19 about how the judicial system works.

"Depending on where you live, you may have one division of the court of common pleas or multiple divisions.  In Butler County, where I live, we have four separate divisions of the court of common pleas; a general division, a domestic relations division, a juvenile division, and a probate division," Justice Kennedy said.

"The general division hears civil and criminal cases and administrative appeals.  The domestic relations division hears cases involving divorce, dissolution, annulment, and legal separation.  The juvenile division hears abuse, neglect, and dependency cases, paternity cases, and criminal cases involving a juvenile.  The probate division hears cases involving the settlement of an estate, mental illness, and adoption.  In 2011, across Ohio courts of common pleas heard 575,963 cases," Justice Kennedy added.

Justice Kennedy is serving her first term on the Supreme Court of Ohio. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Justice Kennedy served at the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division since 1999. Justice Kennedy served as the administrative judge there from 2005 until December 2012. Justice Kennedy began her career in the justice system as a police officer in Hamilton, Ohio. She received her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.