Court Rules
Judge Jennifer O'Donnell
Judge

Judge Jennifer O'Donnell

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

Adjournments

Court-wide

Request must include

Reason For Request
Reason For Request
7Court Daysnotice
30Court Daysnotice

Communication

Phone
SchedulingStatus Inquiries
Phone
Court-wide

Clerk

Technical Issues
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each business day
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingDiscoveryJuryProposed OrdersMemorandaExhibitsEvidence/Witnesses

Document Format Requirements1 rule

Formatting

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important

Proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be emailed to the Staff Attorney in Word format.

Proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms shall be emailed in Word version to the Staff Attorney at cmsweeney@cuyahogacounty.us.

Cuyahoga Oh:cedbaf841c0f65f4669c011d|SecTrials

Document Filing Requirements3 rules

Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

The required final-pretrial statement must address facts, disputed legal issues, stipulations, witnesses, trial length, anticipated pretrial motions, and trial equipment needs.

At least seven (7) days in advance of the Final Pretrial, each party shall submit a statement containing the following: statement of facts, statement of disputed legal issues, stipulations (if any), list of fact witnesses, list of expert witnesses, estimated length of trial, pretrial motions anticipated, and equipment needs at trial.

Document Type

Pretrial Statement

Content & Formatting
Statement Of Facts
Cuyahoga Oh:cedbaf841c0f65f4669c011d|SecPre-Trials
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

A default-judgment motion must include a plaintiff damages affidavit, applicable military-status verification, and a proposed judgment entry.

Motions for default judgment shall include an affidavit from plaintiff supporting the requested damages, military status verification pursuant to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (where applicable), and a proposed judgment entry.

Document Type

Default Judgment Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Cuyahoga Oh:cedbaf841c0f65f4669c011d|SecMotion Practice
Filing Requirements

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?

Seven (7) days before the trial date, the following items are to be filed: responses to any motions in limine, trial briefs, witness lists, exhibit Lists, trial deposition transcripts with a log of objections (if any) and the reason(s) for the objection, stipulations, as well as proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms.

Summary: Trial filings must include responses to any motions in limine, trial briefs, witness and exhibit lists, qualifying deposition transcripts and objection information, stipulations, and proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms.

Document Type

Trial Filing

Content & Formatting
Exhibit List
Cuyahoga Oh:cedbaf841c0f65f4669c011d|SecTrials

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Each party must submit the specified pretrial statement at least seven days before the final pretrial.

At least seven (7) days in advance of the Final Pretrial, each party shall submit a statement containing the following: statement of facts, statement of disputed legal issues, stipulations (if any), list of fact witnesses, list of expert witnesses, estimated length of trial, pretrial motions anticipated, and equipment needs at trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Pre-Trials

The specified trial filings must be submitted seven days before the trial date.

Seven (7) days before the trial date, the following items are to be filed: responses to any motions in limine, trial briefs, witness lists, exhibit Lists, trial deposition transcripts with a log of objections (if any) and the reason(s) for the objection, stipulations, as well as proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Trials

All motions in limine must be filed fourteen days before trial.

Fourteen (14) days before the trial date, all motions in limine are to be filed.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Trials

Counsel and parties must appear at 9:00 a.m. on the first day of trial.

Counsel and parties are to be present at 9:00 am on the first day of trial.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Trials

Courtesy Copy Requirements

Courtesy copies of filings are not required.

Courtesy copies of filings are not required.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | General

Chambers Communication Rules

A party may request a status conference about the case-management schedule or other issues by calling or emailing the Staff Attorney.

Any party may request a telephone status conference with the Court to discuss the current case management schedule or other issues. To request a conference, the party should call or email the Staff Attorney.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | General

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 421 rules apply across Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Fees

All 126
  • Applies to
    Mediation

    No mediation fees are charged for civil cases referred to the court's dispute resolution department.

  • Applies to
    Mediation

    When a case is referred to a mediator outside the court's dispute resolution department, the parties share the mediation cost in proportions they agree upon.

  • Fee
    $66
    Applies to
    Special process server application

    Filing a Special Process Server application costs $66.00 plus any applicable Special Project Fees.

Filing Timing

All 85

  • A motion for extraordinary assigned-counsel compensation must be filed with the usual affidavit and entry requesting assigned-counsel fees.

  • A Guardian Ad Litem may request fees above the schedule by using the extraordinary-compensation procedure.

  • Assigned counsel must apply in writing for an investigator at least 30 days before trial.

Filing Requirements

All 56
  • Applies to
    Notice of appearance

    A notice of limited appearance must use the prescribed title, describe the representation’s scope and justification, and state that the limited representation was communicated to the client in writing.

  • Applies to
    Special process server application
    Must include
    local rule certificate

    An application for a standing order designating a Special Process Server must be supported by an affidavit containing the stated applicant information and agreements.

  • Applies to
    Proposed standing order

    The applicant must submit a proposed standing order with the specified caption and language designating the applicant to serve process and subpoenas for the stated one-year term or until further court order.

Adjournments

All 39

  • Mediation continuances require good cause, generally cannot be based solely on pending motions, and will not be granted unless mediation can be scheduled before the next court event.

  • If the Court cannot rule by the scheduled ruling date for any reason, the trial date must be continued for at least 60 days.

  • An automatic trial-date continuance does not apply when a party obtains an extension of the briefing schedule that requires extending the ruling date, although the Court may continue the trial date in its discretion.

More categories

View all Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division rules
About Judge Jennifer O'Donnell

- On the Common Pleas bench since: December 2022 - Admitted to the bar: 2008 - Legal experience: Assistant Public Defender, Cuyahoga County’s Public Defender’s Office (14 years)

- Courtroom: 17-B - Courthouse: 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 - Fax: (216) 348-4037 - Bailiff: Andy K. Hammersmith (216) 443-8756 - Staff attorney: Christine M. Sweeney (216) 443-8612

Common questions about Judge Jennifer O'Donnell's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Jennifer O'Donnell?

Courtesy copies of filings are not required.

View ruleSource: page 1, section General

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Jennifer O'Donnell?

Judge Jennifer O'Donnell's formatting rule includes email in word version to the staff attorney at cmsweeney@cuyahogacounty.us. Proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be emailed to the Staff Attorney in Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Trials

What must be included with default judgment motion filings before Judge Jennifer O'Donnell?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A default-judgment motion must include a plaintiff damages affidavit, applicable military-status verification, and a proposed judgment entry.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motion Practice

What must be included with pretrial statement filings before Judge Jennifer O'Donnell?

The rule requires statement of facts. The required final-pretrial statement must address facts, disputed legal issues, stipulations, witnesses, trial length, anticipated pretrial motions, and trial equipment needs.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Pre-Trials

How may parties contact Judge Jennifer O'Donnell's chambers?

The rule addresses phone communications. A party may request a status conference about the case-management schedule or other issues by calling or emailing the Staff Attorney.

View ruleSource: page 1, section General

What filing deadlines does Judge Jennifer O'Donnell set?

Each party must submit the specified pretrial statement at least seven days before the final pretrial.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Pre-Trials
Complete rules summary for Judge Jennifer O'Donnell

A default-judgment motion must include a plaintiff damages affidavit, applicable military-status verification, and a proposed judgment entry.

Courtesy copies of filings are not required.

A party may request a status conference about the case-management schedule or other issues by calling or emailing the Staff Attorney.

Each party must submit the specified pretrial statement at least seven days before the final pretrial.

The required final-pretrial statement must address facts, disputed legal issues, stipulations, witnesses, trial length, anticipated pretrial motions, and trial equipment needs.

Counsel and parties must appear at 9:00 a.m. on the first day of trial.

All motions in limine must be filed fourteen days before trial.

The specified trial filings must be submitted seven days before the trial date.

Trial filings must include responses to any motions in limine, trial briefs, witness and exhibit lists, qualifying deposition transcripts and objection information, stipulations, and proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms.

Proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms must be emailed to the Staff Attorney in Word format.

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