Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Chambers Communication Rules

55 rules from official source documents

23 of 55 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.

Rules for contacting chambers: permitted methods, hours, and purposes. This page is scoped to Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

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

Contact: Phone

Routine civil scheduling and dial-in requests may be made by telephone, but ex parte guidance on deadlines, briefing, or pending-motion status is prohibited.

COUNSEL AND THE PARTIES ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT THIS COURT WILL NOT ACCEPT EX PARTE TELEPHONE CALLS TO THE STAFF ATTORNEY REGARDING SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES IN PENDING CIVIL MATTERS. THE COURT SPEAKS THROUGH ITS DOCKET. WHILE IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO CALL THE STAFF ATTORNEY REGARDING ROUTINE, NON-SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS (SUCH AS REQUESTS FOR THE DIAL-IN INFORMATION FOR AN UPCOMING STATUS CONFERENCE, ETC.), IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FOR COUNSEL TO CALL EX PARTE FOR GUIDANCE OR CLARIFICATION REGARDING SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS, INCLUDING MATTERS RELATING TO EXISTING CASE MANAGEMENT DEADLINES, REQUESTS TO FILE BRIEFING, AND/OR INQUIRIES REGARDING THE STATUS OF PENDING MOTIONS.

Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams

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

Contact: Email

Counsel must email proposed jury instructions in Word format to doprian@cuyahogacounty.gov in addition to filing them with the court.

In addition to filing proposed jury instructions with the court, counsel shall email proposed jury instructions in Word format to doprian@cuyahogacounty.gov.

Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams

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

Contact: Phone

Plaintiff’s counsel must initiate the telephone hearing for default judgment.

Plaintiff’s counsel is to initiate the telephonic hearing for default judgment.

Judge Kevin Kelley

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

Civil cases

Contact: Phone

Case management conferences will be held by phone unless the parties request another arrangement.

Case management conferences will be held by phone unless the parties request otherwise.

Judge Maureen E. Clancy

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

Civil cases

Contact: Phone

Parties must contact the Court to schedule a telephone conference before filing any motion to compel.

Parties are to contact the Court to schedule a telephone conference prior to filing any motion to compel.

Judge Maureen E. Clancy

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

The Court will not accept requests by telephone for any purpose.

General: The Court will not entertain telephone request for any purpose.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo

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

Civil cases

Contact: Email to chambers

The parties must email the Staff Attorney a Word document containing the joint proposed jury instructions.

Parties are to email a word document of the joint proposed jury instructions to the Staff Attorney at kdavenport@cuyahogacounty.us.

Judge Shannon M. Gallagher

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

Civil cases

Contact: Email

Parties must submit agreed-upon jury instructions electronically to the staff attorney at cpdmt@cuyahogacounty.us.

Parties are to submit the agreed upon instructions to the staff attorney in electronic form to: cpdmt@cuyahogacounty.us.

Judge Steven E. Gall

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

Civil cases

A request for the assigned judge to conduct the final pretrial in person must be made through the judicial staff attorney at least 24 hours in advance.

Therefore, if the attorneys believe it is absolutely necessary that the assigned judge conduct the final pre-trial in person, the parties are directed to contact the judicial staff attorney twenty-four (24) hours or more in advance to make such a request.

Court-level rulesOfficial source

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

Contact: Phone

For a deposition dispute requiring immediate court assistance, the parties may call the staff attorney only jointly.

IF A DISPUTE ARISES DURING A DEPOSITION THAT REQUIRES THIS COURT’S IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE, THE PARTIES MAY CALL THE STAFF ATTORNEY FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT MUST DO SO JOINTLY (AND NOT ON AN EX PARTE BASIS).

Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams

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

Contact: Phone to chambers

Parties must contact the staff attorney by phone before filing a motion to compel when discovery disputes remain unresolved.

If discovery disputes remain, the parties are to contact the staff attorney at (216) 443-8602 prior to filing any motions to compel.

Judge Deborah M. Turner

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

Contact: Phone
Phone: 216-443-8588

Plaintiff’s counsel must initiate the case management telephone conference with defense counsel and then Judge Russo’s Staff Attorney at the stated number.

Plaintiff's counsel is to initiate the telephone conference to Defendant's counsel and then to Judge Russo’s Staff Attorney at 216-443-8588.

Judge John J. Russo

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

Civil cases

Contact: Phone
Phone: 216-443-8601

A party that resolves a discovery dispute while a Motion to Compel is pending must immediately notify the staff attorney at the stated number or file a motion to withdraw.

If your discovery dispute is resolved while an underlying Motion to Compel remains pending, please immediately notify the staff attorney at 216-443-8601 or file a motion to withdraw.

Judge John J. Spellacy

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

Civil cases

Contact: Phone to chambers
Phone: (216) 443-8580

Unless otherwise ordered, plaintiff's counsel must initiate the CMC telephone conference with defendant's counsel and then with Linda Herman at (216) 443-8580.

Plaintiff's counsel is to initiate the telephone conference to defendant's counsel and then to Judge Vodrey’s judicial staff attorney, Linda Herman, at (216) 443-8580, unless otherwise ordered.

Judge William F.B. Vodrey

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

Contact: Phone to chambers
Phone: 216-443-5595

Parties may request a Zoom settlement conference by contacting staff attorney Cara Kozyk by phone or email.

The Court is available to conduct settlement conferences via Zoom at the request of the parties. To request a Zoom conference with the Court, contact staff attorney Cara Kozyk at 216-443-5595 or cakozyk@cuyahogacounty.us.

Judge David T. Matia

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

Contact: Phone to chambers
Phone: (216) 443-8728

Criminal-case questions should be directed to the bailiff during business hours.

If you have a question about a criminal case, please contact the Court’s bailiff at the number listed above during business hours.

Judge Hollie L. Gallagher

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

Contact: Phone

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.

Judge Jennifer O'Donnell

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

Contact: Phone

The initial case management conference ordinarily occurs by telephone with the Staff Attorney unless the parties request that Judge Russo conduct it.

The CMC will be conducted by phone with the Court’s Staff Attorney, unless the parties request it be held by Judge Russo.

Judge John J. Russo

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

Civil cases

Contact: Phone
Phone: 216-443-8674

Administrative filers may contact Judge Shaughnessy’s Staff Attorney at 216-443-8674 with questions.

For Administrative filings, please review the following information and contact Judge Shaughnessy’s Staff Attorney at 216-443-8674 with any questions.

Judge Michael P. Shaughnessy

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

Civil cases

Contact: Phone
Phone: 216-443-8674

Defendant should contact the Court’s Staff Attorney by phone at 216-443-8674 to schedule the debtor examination.

Defendant should contact this Court’s Staff Attorney at 216-443-8674 in order to set this matter for a debtor examination.

Judge Michael P. Shaughnessy

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

A party may contact the court through the staff attorney or bailiff to obtain an available hearing time and date.

parties may advance a hearing by contacting the court through the staff attorney or bailiff for an available time and date

Judge Nancy A. Fuerst

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

Contact: Phone to chambers
Phone: 216-443-8589

Any party may request a telephone conference by calling Judge Corrigan's staff attorney at 216-443-8589 to discuss litigation issues or the current case-management schedule.

Due to the potential effects of COVID-19 regarding a party’s civil litigation, any party may request a Telephone Conference with the Court to discuss any issues and/or the current Case Management Schedule. To request the Telephone Conference, the party should call Judge Peter Corrigan's staff attorney at 216-443-8589.

Judge Peter J. Corrigan

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

Civil cases

Contact: Email to chambers

Parties may email Staff Attorney Kimberly Davenport about civil matters, copying all opposing counsel and pro se parties.

Any party may address questions about a civil matter to Judge Gallagher’s Staff Attorney Kimberly Davenport by email at kdavenport@cuyahogacounty.us, with all opposing counsel and/or pro se parties copied on the email.

Judge Shannon M. Gallagher

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

Contact: Phone to chambers ?

COUNSEL AND THE PARTIES ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT THIS COURT WILL NOT ACCEPT EX PARTE TELEPHONE CALLS TO CHAMBERS REGARDING SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES IN PENDING CRIMINAL MATTERS. THE COURT SPEAKS THROUGH ITS DOCKET. WHILE IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO CALL CHAMBERS REGARDING ROUTINE, NON-SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS (SUCH AS SCHEDULING OF PRETRIALS, ACCEPTANCE OF ASSIGNED CASES, ETC.), IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FOR COUNSEL TO CALL CHAMBERS EX PARTE FOR GUIDANCE OR CLARIFICATION REGARDING SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS.

Summary: Routine, non-substantive criminal scheduling matters may be handled by telephone, but substantive ex parte requests for guidance or clarification are prohibited.

Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams

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

Contact: Email

ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS IN PENDING CASES MUST BE DISCUSSED DURING PRE-TRIALS WITH ALL PARTIES PRESENT, OR VIA GROUP TEXT, GROUP EMAILS, AND/OR RAISED IN MOTIONS FILED ON THE PUBLIC DOCKET.

Summary: Substantive criminal issues must be addressed with all parties at a pretrial, through group communications, or by motion on the public docket.

Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams

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

Contact: Email to chambers ?

Counsel for the plaintiff shall be responsible for ensuring that a copy of the proposed jury instructions, interrogatories and verdict forms are emailed in word format to the staff attorney at doakley@cuyahogacounty.us at least fourteen (14) days before the scheduled trial date.

Summary: Plaintiff's counsel must email the proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms in Word format to the staff attorney at least 14 days before trial.

Judge Deborah M. Turner

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

Contact: Phone to chambers ?
Phone: 216-443-7326

The parties are to contact the staff attorney at 216-443-7326 in order to schedule a telephone conference prior to filing any discovery motion (motion to compel, motion to quash).

Summary: Before filing a motion to compel or motion to quash, the parties must contact the staff attorney at 216-443-7326 to schedule a telephone conference.

Judge Kevin Kelley

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

Civil cases

Contact: Phone to chambers ?

If case is settled or dismissed after trial briefs are filed, counsel must notify this Court via telephone before the scheduled trial date or fines may be imposed pursuant to an Order to Show Cause and subsequent finding of contempt.

Summary: Counsel must notify the court by telephone before the scheduled trial date if the case is settled or dismissed after trial briefs are filed.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo

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

Contact: Letter fax to chambers ?

All counsel are ordered to provide the Court with copies of their respective letters on the dates as outlined above. Delivery may be made by fax at 216-348-4036.

Summary: Counsel must provide the Court with copies of their settlement letters on the stated dates, and delivery may be made by fax to 216-348-4036.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Litigants may not email chambers.

Machine summary

Pro se litigants may not communicate with chambers by email.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo Official source

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Parties shall not contact the opposing parties or the deputy clerk directly.

Machine summary

Parties must not contact opposing parties or the deputy clerk directly.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo Official source

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

Contact: Phone to chambers ?
Phone: 216-443-8736

All parties are to contact the court at 216-443-8736 at the scheduled date and time.

Summary: All parties must contact the court at the listed telephone number at the scheduled default hearing date and time.

Judge Richard A. Bell

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

Civil cases

Contact: Phone ?

All out of town parties who have been excused from making an in person appearance shall be available by telephone during the scheduled settlement conference or final pretrial.

Summary: An out-of-town party excused from appearing in person must remain available by telephone during the settlement conference or final pretrial.

Judge Shannon M. Gallagher

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

Contact: Email to chambers ?

If after a good-faith attempt to resolve the issues a dispute remains, the parties should contact the Court’s staff attorney by email with a suggested date and time for a Zoom conference with the Court, and include a brief description of the issues to be discussed. Thereafter, the Court may order a briefing.

Summary: After a good-faith effort fails, parties should email the Court’s staff attorney a proposed Zoom-conference date and time and a brief description of the dispute, after which the Court may order briefing.

Judge Ashley Kilbane

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

Contact: Email

PARTIES MAY CALL JOINTLY TO THE STAFF ATTORNEY OR CONTACT THE STAFF ATTORNEY VIA JOINT EMAIL REGARDING THOSE MATTERS.

Summary: Civil substantive matters may be raised with the staff attorney only through a joint call or joint email.

Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams

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

Phone: (216) 443-8579 ?

If the parties believe it is necessary for the assigned judge to personally conduct the final pretrial, the parties are directed to contact the staff attorney at least 24 in advance to submit their request.

Summary: A request that the assigned judge personally conduct the final pretrial must be submitted to the staff attorney in advance.

Judge Hollie L. Gallagher

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

Contact: Phone to chambers ?
Phone: (216) 443-8579 ?

If you are seeking to continue a case management conference or default hearing, please call the Court’s staff attorney.

Summary: A request to continue a case management conference or default hearing should be made by calling the court’s staff attorney.

Judge Hollie L. Gallagher

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

Contact: Phone to chambers ?

Time permitting, pretrials will be conducted in person with Judge Kelley. Pretrials may also be held by telephone with the staff attorney.

Summary: Pretrials will be held in person when time permits, but may also be held by telephone with the staff attorney.

Judge Kevin Kelley

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.WARNING?

If you cannot access e-filing, please contact the clerk at 217-558-4400.

Machine summary

A litigant unable to access e-filing may contact the clerk at 217-558-4400.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo Official source

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.WARNING?

If you need assistance in resolving discovery disputes, please contact the deputy clerk at 309-558-4101.

Machine summary

Litigants seeking help resolving discovery disputes may contact the deputy clerk at 309-558-4101.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo Official source

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.WARNING?

The clerk of court cannot give legal advice.

Machine summary

The court clerk cannot provide legal advice.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo Official source

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

Contact: Phone to chambers ?
Phone: 216-443-8581

Plaintiff’s counsel is to initiate the telephone call with defense counsel and then conference in Judge Bell’s Staff Attorney, Kristin Brown, at 216-443-8581.

Summary: At a case management conference conducted by telephone, plaintiff’s counsel must initiate the call with defense counsel and then include the Staff Attorney.

Judge Richard A. Bell