Court Rules
Judge Julie M. Lynch
Judge

Judge Julie M. Lynch

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

BriefCourt-wide
15 pgs
Reply BriefCourt-wide
7 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Receivership Plan, Receiver Progress Report

Court-wide
  • Upon Filing

Communication

Phone
Scheduling
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingPage LimitsTypographyProposed OrdersDiscoveryElectronics

Page & Word Limits1 rule

Page LimitsCivil cases

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

Motion-practice page limits are enforced, with leave to exceed them available only in limited circumstances.

Page limits enforced. Leave to exceed will be granted only in limited circumstances.

Document Format Requirements1 rule

FormattingCivil cases

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

Text reproduced as images in motions must not use a font smaller than 12 points.

Do not copy and paste images of documents into motions where the font is less than 12 points.

Typography
Size12 pt

Document Filing Requirements5 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Parties must file pretrial statements as required by the Civil Rules and Local Rules.

Pre-Trial statements required as provided for under the Civil/Local Rules.

Document Type

Pretrial Statement

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

A Joint Discovery Plan proposing different case-schedule dates must include a proposed order reflecting those changes.

When submitting a Joint Discovery Plan, if the parties are agreeing to dates that are different than those set forth in the Clerk’s original case schedule, the parties must submit a proposed order reflecting the requested changes to the case schedule.

Document Type

Joint Discovery Plan

Content & Formatting
Proposed Order
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Each filed motion must include a working email address and phone number in its signature block.

Parties shall include a working email address and phone number in the signature block of each motion filed.

Document Type

Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

After obtaining dates from the Court's staff attorney, the requesting party must submit an appropriate judgment entry.

Submit an appropriate judgment entry after getting dates from the Court’s staff attorney.

Document Type

Judgment Entry

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Franklin Oh:ab8d1af940a1626a6998363b
|SecV. Continuances or Amended Case Schedules
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Agreed or unopposed motions should include a proposed entry uploaded through e-filing in Microsoft Word format.

Agreed/unopposed motions should be accompanied by a proposed entry uploaded in Microsoft Word format through e-filing.

Document Type

Agreed Unopposed Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

A proposed entry for an agreed or unopposed motion must be uploaded through e-filing in Microsoft Word format.

Agreed/unopposed motions should be accompanied by a proposed entry uploaded in Microsoft Word format through e-filing.

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

Page 1 | IV. Motion Practice

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

After settlement, counsel generally have 30 days to file a final entry or stipulation of dismissal, and failure to do so may result in dismissal from the active docket under Local Rule 25.03.

Normally, a formal notice will be sent by the Court confirming settlement, and advising that counsel have 30 days to file a final Entry or stipulation of dismissal. If the final Entry or stipulation is not timely received, the Court will dismiss the case from the active docket pursuant to Local Rule 25.03.

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

Page 1 | XI. Notice of Settlement

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

A civil trial in Courtroom 7E cannot be postponed by stipulation or agreed entry; a continuance must be requested by a written motion filed well before the final pretrial conference.

Stipulations or “Agreed” Entries are not sufficient to postpone civil trials in Courtroom 7E. Motions for continuance of a trial date must be in writing and should be sought well before the Final Pre-trial Conference.

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

Page 1 | V. Continuances or Amended Case Schedules

Requests to continue a case or amend its schedule require a showing of good cause.

V. Continuances or Amended Case Schedules For good cause shown.

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

Page 1 | V. Continuances or Amended Case Schedules

Chambers Communication Rules

Court staff may not engage in unilateral or ex parte communications or advise parties regarding their legal rights and duties.

Counsel and unrepresented parties are reminded that Court staff are unable, both legally and ethically, to engage in unilateral, or ex parte communications, or to provide advice regarding legal rights or duties.

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

Page 1 | II. Ex Parte Communications

Counsel must promptly call the staff attorney or secretary to report that the case has settled.

Consistent with Local Rule 22, counsel must call the staff attorney or secretary as soon as possible to advise when a case has been settled.

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

Page 1 | XI. Notice of Settlement

Before an ex parte contact with the Court, counsel should first confer with the opposing side, obtain approval, or at minimum provide advance notice.

Counsel should set up conference calls with opposing counsel and unrepresented parties before calling the Court, or obtain opposing counsel’s approval, or at a minimum provide notice before contacting the Court ex parte.

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

Page 1 | II. Ex Parte Communications

Opposing counsel and unrepresented parties should be copied on every email sent to Court staff.

Opposing counsel and unrepresented parties should be “cc’d” on all emails with Court staff.

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

Page 1 | II. Ex Parte Communications

A party may request a status conference by contacting the Court's staff attorney or by filing a written motion.

Parties can request status conferences by either contacting the Court’s staff attorney or filing a written motion.

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

Page 1 | VI. Status Conferences

If a case appears likely to require trial, counsel should notify the staff attorney as soon as possible to permit adequate pretrial proceedings and attempt to avoid scheduling conflicts and obtain a firm trial date.

If a case genuinely appears likely to require a trial, alert the staff attorney as soon as possible so that we can do our best to allow enough time for pre-trial proceedings, to attempt to avoid scheduling conflicts, and to try and assign a “firm” trial date.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases

Page 1 | X. Trials

Counsel seeking submission of a case to mediation before Magistrate Hunt should call the staff attorney and confirm that all counsel agree.

If counsel want to submit their case to mediation with Magistrate Hunt, they should call the staff attorney and advise that counsel are in agreement.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases

Page 1 | VII. Mediations

Parties must first attempt to resolve discovery disputes under the Civil Rules and, if communications reach an impasse, contact the staff attorney for referral to the magistrate.

Parties are required to engage in resolution of disputes pursuant to the Civil Rules. Should communications reach an impasse, contact the staff attorney; the Court will then refer the matter to the magistrate.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases

Page 1 | III. Discovery

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 361 rules apply across Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 135
  • Applies to
    Pleading motion brief memorandum or written argument
    Must include
    certificate of service

    Written proof of service must appear on or accompany each covered filing, and a judge will not consider a filing without a certificate of service unless the filing is a trial brief that counsel agreed not to exchange.

  • Applies to
    Cover sheet

    Court proceedings for a CQE must be initiated with the designated Cover Sheet, Form A.

  • Applies to
    Cover sheet

    The Cover Sheet must state the petitioner's assigned ODRC Electronic Petition Identification Number and include a copy of the completed ODRC Electronic Application.

Fees

All 69
  • Applies to
    Miscellaneous proceedings initiated by columbus bar association

    No advance local filing-fee deposit is required for Columbus Bar Association miscellaneous proceedings, but the court will assess costs at the end of each case as it deems just.

  • Applies to
    Cqe petition

    Every petitioner must deposit at filing a uniform, non-refundable fee in the amount set by the Clerk and approved by the Administrative Judge.

  • Applies to
    Cqe petition

    The filing-fee deposit must be paid before the court is required to take any action on the CQE Petition.

Filing Timing

All 65
  • A motion for leave to exceed the memorandum or brief page limits must be filed no later than seven days before the brief is due and must explain the unusual and extraordinary circumstances requiring the excess.

  • An attorney may not withdraw later than 20 days before a trial or dispositive hearing, except in extraordinary circumstances.

  • Any party filing objections to a magistrate's order or decision must timely file the objections and supporting memorandum in accordance with Civil Rule 53.

Service

All 43
  • Applies to
    Pleading motion brief memorandum or written argument

    Every pleading, motion, brief, memorandum, or written argument filed with the Court or a judge must be served on all opposing counsel and all unrepresented parties.

  • Applies to
    Cqe notification
    Service
    Mail

    The Probation Department may send CQE notifications to other courts or prosecutors by ordinary U.S. mail or electronically.

  • Applies to
    Notice of final decision
    Service
    Court service

    The Clerk must notify each petitioner of the final decision and provide a copy of the Judgment Entry.

About Judge Julie M. Lynch

Term expires January 2029. Staff attorney: Valerie Swanson, 614.525.5993.

**Courtroom:** 7E **Address:** 345 S High Street 7th Floor, Courtroom 7E Columbus, OH 43215 **Phone:** 614.525.3777 **Fax:** 614.525.2462 **Secretary:** Stacey Thomas, 614.525.3777 **Bailiff:** Wilma Graeff, 614.525.3293 **Staff Attorney:** Valerie Swanson, 614.525.5993 **Court Reporter:** Tammy Luchini, 614.525.3759 **Magistrate:** Jennifer Hunt, 614.525.4692

Common questions about Judge Julie M. Lynch's rules

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Julie M. Lynch?

Judge Julie M. Lynch's formatting rule includes 12 point type. Text reproduced as images in motions must not use a font smaller than 12 points.

View ruleSource: page 1, section IV. Motion Practice

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Julie M. Lynch?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Each filed motion must include a working email address and phone number in its signature block.

View ruleSource: page 1, section IV. Motion Practice

What must be included with joint discovery plan filings before Judge Julie M. Lynch?

The rule requires proposed order. A Joint Discovery Plan proposing different case-schedule dates must include a proposed order reflecting those changes.

View ruleSource: page 1, section III. Discovery

How may parties contact Judge Julie M. Lynch's chambers?

Court staff may not engage in unilateral or ex parte communications or advise parties regarding their legal rights and duties.

View ruleSource: page 1, section II. Ex Parte Communications

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Julie M. Lynch?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Requests to continue a case or amend its schedule require a showing of good cause.

View ruleSource: page 1, section V. Continuances or Amended Case Schedules

Is electronic filing required before Judge Julie M. Lynch?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. A proposed entry for an agreed or unopposed motion must be uploaded through e-filing in Microsoft Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section IV. Motion Practice

What filing deadlines does Judge Julie M. Lynch set?

After settlement, counsel generally have 30 days to file a final entry or stipulation of dismissal, and failure to do so may result in dismissal from the active docket under Local Rule 25.03.

View ruleSource: page 1, section XI. Notice of Settlement
Complete rules summary for Judge Julie M. Lynch

Motion-practice page limits are enforced, with leave to exceed them available only in limited circumstances.

Each filed motion must include a working email address and phone number in its signature block.

Agreed or unopposed motions should include a proposed entry uploaded through e-filing in Microsoft Word format.

A proposed entry for an agreed or unopposed motion must be uploaded through e-filing in Microsoft Word format.

Text reproduced as images in motions must not use a font smaller than 12 points.

A Joint Discovery Plan proposing different case-schedule dates must include a proposed order reflecting those changes.

Parties must first attempt to resolve discovery disputes under the Civil Rules and, if communications reach an impasse, contact the staff attorney for referral to the magistrate.

Court staff may not engage in unilateral or ex parte communications or advise parties regarding their legal rights and duties.

Before an ex parte contact with the Court, counsel should first confer with the opposing side, obtain approval, or at minimum provide advance notice.

Opposing counsel and unrepresented parties should be copied on every email sent to Court staff.

Requests to continue a case or amend its schedule require a showing of good cause.

After obtaining dates from the Court's staff attorney, the requesting party must submit an appropriate judgment entry.

A civil trial in Courtroom 7E cannot be postponed by stipulation or agreed entry; a continuance must be requested by a written motion filed well before the final pretrial conference.

A party may request a status conference by contacting the Court's staff attorney or by filing a written motion.

Counsel seeking submission of a case to mediation before Magistrate Hunt should call the staff attorney and confirm that all counsel agree.

Parties must file pretrial statements as required by the Civil Rules and Local Rules.

If a case appears likely to require trial, counsel should notify the staff attorney as soon as possible to permit adequate pretrial proceedings and attempt to avoid scheduling conflicts and obtain a firm trial date.

Counsel must promptly call the staff attorney or secretary to report that the case has settled.

After settlement, counsel generally have 30 days to file a final entry or stipulation of dismissal, and failure to do so may result in dismissal from the active docket under Local Rule 25.03.

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