Court Rules
Judge

Judge Patrick J. Condon

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Lake County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Post Pleading DocumentCourt-wide
10 pgs
Document After PleadingsCourt-wide
10 pgs
BriefCourt-wide
10 pgs
Document Except Complaints Counterclaims Cross Claims And Third Party ComplaintsCourt-wide
10 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

Court-wide

Trial Documents, Trial Exhibits

Court-wide
  • At Least 2 Working Days Before Trial

Adjournments

  • Every continuance request must be written, state the reasons, and be signed by both the party and counsel.
  • A trial continuance requires a written motion supported by an affidavit or appropriate documentation, and unavailable witnesses or experts do not justify a continuance.
  • Date conflicts must be documented with the conflicting notice or a sworn statement stating the case number, jurisdiction, judge, and scheduling date.

Request must include

Reason For RequestOriginal Date

Communication

Email
commonpleascourtv@lakecountyohio.gov
Phone
(440)350-2136
Scheduling
Phone
(440)350-2723
Cases:
Filters:AllMandatoryFormattingEvidence/WitnessesExhibitsMemorandaLettersDiscoveryJury

Document Format Requirements2 rules

FormattingCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

All exhibits must be marked for identification before trial, with plaintiff's exhibits numbered consecutively and defendant's exhibits lettered consecutively.

MARK ALL EXHIBITS FOR IDENTIFICATION PRIOR TO TRIAL. PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBITS SHALL BE NUMBERED AND DEFENDANT'S EXHIBITS LETTERED CONSECUTIVELY.

FormattingCriminal cases

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

Requested jury instructions must be emailed to the court at least seven days before trial and submitted in Word format.

Any requested instructions must be presented to the Court by e-mail (CommonPleasCourtV@lakecountyohio.gov) no later than seven (7) days before trial in Word format.

Required Format

DOCX

Document Filing Requirements10 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

Counsel must submit written witness lists and exhibit descriptions no later than seven days before trial.

Counsel shall submit to the court written lists of the names of witnesses to be presented to testify and description of exhibits to be presented at trial no later than seven (7) days before trial.

Document Type

Trial Witness And Exhibit Lists

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

Each counsel must file a trial brief with supporting citations no later than 14 days before trial.

Trial briefs shall be filed by each counsel with appropriate citations supporting the theory of their case no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.

Document Type

Trial Brief

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

Within 30 days after the case concludes, the prevailing party must submit a judgment entry reflecting the verdict or outcome.

Within thirty (30) days after conclusion of the case, the prevailing party shall submit to the court a judgment entry reflecting the verdict or outcome;

Document Type

Judgment Entry

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

Objections to video or written deposition testimony must be raised by motion no later than 14 days before trial and identify each objection and its transcript or video location.

Where video or written depositions are to be used, objections to any testimony must be brought to the attention of the court no later than fourteen (14) days before trial by motion, listing the specific objections requiring ruling, their location by line and page in the written deposition transcript, as well as by time reference on any video.

Document Type

Deposition Objection Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

Civil discovery materials may be filed only on court order, as evidence, or for motion consideration, and a single-page notice identifying the request or response, issuance date, and recipients must be filed.

Discovery enumerated in Ohio Civil Rule 5(D), to wit: depositions, interrogatories, requests for documents and admissions and answers and responses thereto, shall not be filed with the Lake County Clerk of the Common Pleas Court unless on order of the court or for use as evidence or for consideration of a motion in the case. Parties shall file a single page notice indicating the discovery request or response served, the date issued, and upon whom served.

Document Type

Discovery Notice

Content & Formatting
Page Count
Filing RequirementsCriminal cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

Every pleading, motion, brief, or other filed paper must identify the preparing attorney and include Civ.R. 11 information, including an email address.

Pursuant to Loc.R. 3.01(C), every pleading, motion, brief or other paper filed in a case shall bear the name of the individual attorney, if any, who prepared such document, together with identifying information as set forth in Civ.R. 11, including in particular, an email address.

Document Type

Pleading Motion Brief Or Other Paper

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCriminal cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

Counsel for an indigent defendant must be appointed by Judgment Entry, and a financial disclosure form must be filed in every case involving an indigent defendant.

Counsel representing an indigent defendant must be appointed by Judgment Entry. A financial disclosure form must be filed in every case where there is an indigent defendant.

Document Type

Financial Disclosure Form

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

No objections to deposition testimony will be entertained at trial;

Summary: The court will not entertain objections to deposition testimony at trial.

Document Type

Deposition Objection Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Counsel shall exchange a list of all exhibits to be offered at trial including a brief description of each. For any known to exist but not available exhibits, the substance thereof shall be disclosed and numbers or letters are to be reserved for such exhibits. Counsel shall indicate whether an exhibit may be admitted into evidence by stipulation or if not admitted by stipulation, whether the exhibit may be offered into evidence without proof of its authenticity;

Summary: Counsel must exchange a trial-exhibit list with descriptions, disclose and reserve identifiers for unavailable known exhibits, and state the evidentiary basis for offering each exhibit.

Document Type

Trial Exhibit List

Content & Formatting
Exhibit List
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Counsel shall submit to the Court proposed instructions for all causes of action and any affirmative defenses, as well as proposed verdict forms and interrogatories, no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.

Summary: Counsel must submit proposed instructions, verdict forms, and interrogatories no later than 14 days before trial.

Document Type

Proposed Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Counsel must notify the court immediately when a case is settled or dismissed.

If a case is settled or dismissed, the court shall be notified immediately by counsel.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

The deadline for proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and interrogatories is no later than 14 days before trial.

Counsel shall submit to the Court proposed instructions for all causes of action and any affirmative defenses, as well as proposed verdict forms and interrogatories, no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

The deadline for submitting the written witness and exhibit lists is no later than seven days before trial.

Counsel shall submit to the court written lists of the names of witnesses to be presented to testify and description of exhibits to be presented at trial no later than seven (7) days before trial.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Written stipulations must be submitted to the court by the morning of trial.

Counsel shall submit to the court any written stipulations no later than the morning of trial.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

The deadline for raising deposition-testimony objections by motion is no later than 14 days before trial.

Where video or written depositions are to be used, objections to any testimony must be brought to the attention of the court no later than fourteen (14) days before trial by motion, listing the specific objections requiring ruling, their location by line and page in the written deposition transcript, as well as by time reference on any video.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

The prevailing party must submit the judgment entry within 30 days after conclusion of the case.

Within thirty (30) days after conclusion of the case, the prevailing party shall submit to the court a judgment entry reflecting the verdict or outcome;

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Settlement or dismissal entries must be filed within 30 days after notice to the court, and pretrial notices must be filed no later than the scheduled trial date.

Entries of settlement or dismissal shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after notice of settlement or dismissal to the Court. NOTICES OF SETTLEMENT OR DISMISSAL PRIOR TO TRIAL SHALL BE FILED NO LATER THAN THE SCHEDULED TRIAL DATE.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Unless notification of settlement or dismissal is filed before the case is called for trial, the scheduled trial will proceed or the case may be dismissed for want of prosecution.

A SCHEDULED TRIAL SHALL PROCEED, OR BE DISMISSED FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION, UNLESS NOTIFICATION OF SETTLEMENT OR DISMISSAL IS FILED WITH THE COURT PRIOR TO BEING CALLED FOR TRIAL.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Motions in limine must be filed no later than 14 days before trial.

Motions in limine shall be filed no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

The deadline for filing trial briefs is no later than 14 days before trial.

Trial briefs shall be filed by each counsel with appropriate citations supporting the theory of their case no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Responses to motions in limine are due no later than seven days before trial.

Responses are due no later than seven (7) days before trial.

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

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Service and Proof of Service Rules

Neither the written nor electronic jury instructions should be filed with the clerk unless filing is needed to preserve appellate rights.

Neither the written copy nor the electronic copy should be filed with the Clerk of Courts unless preservation of appellate rights is concerned.

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

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Every continuance request must be written, state the reasons, and be signed by both the party and counsel.

All requests for continuances shall be in writing accompanied by a statement of reasons for the request and signed by the party and counsel.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | PRE-TRIAL ORDERS

A trial continuance requires a written motion supported by an affidavit or appropriate documentation, and unavailable witnesses or experts do not justify a continuance.

No continuance of trial will be granted without a written motion supported by affidavit or appropriate documentation. THE UNAVAILABILITY OF ANY WITNESS, EXPERT OR OTHERWISE, WILL NOT BE GROUNDS TO CONTINUE THE TRIAL DATE.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Date conflicts must be documented with the conflicting notice or a sworn statement stating the case number, jurisdiction, judge, and scheduling date.

All date conflicts shall be documented by either copies of the conflicting notice or a sworn statement enumerating case number, jurisdiction, judge, and date of scheduling.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Chambers Communication Rules

Proposed instructions must be emailed in Word to the court and opposing counsel and ordinarily should not be filed with the clerk unless preservation of appellate rights requires filing.

The instructions shall be provided by electronic copy in Word by email sent to CommonPleasCourtV@lakecountyohio.gov as well as to opposing counsel. Neither the written copy nor the electronic copy should be filed with the Clerk of Courts unless preservation of appellate rights is concerned.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL MATTERS

Contact the Court’s Scheduler directly by phone to request a hearing or continuance or report a settlement.

To request a hearing, request a continuance, or report a settlement, please contact the Court’s Scheduler directly at (440)350-2136.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026

Page 1 | STAFF

Contact the Court’s Bailiff directly by phone with questions about a received jury summons.

If you have received a Jury Summons and have questions, please contact the Court’s Bailiff directly at (440)350-2723.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026

Page 1 | STAFF

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 323 rules apply across Lake County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 114
  • Applies to
    Certification of appointed counsel

    Appointed counsel must certify awareness of Ohio Revised Code Section 120.03, review of Ohio Administrative Code Section 120-1-10, and ongoing compliance with the applicable training and experience requirements.

  • Applies to
    Preliminary judicial report

    The PJR must have an effective date within the 30 days before the complaint was filed.

  • Applies to
    Preliminary judicial report

    The PJR must identify the complete and correct property being foreclosed.

Filing Timing

All 56
  • Judgment entries may be rejected if the applicable items on the foreclosure checklist are not addressed promptly.

  • Effective March 4, 2022, the attached Foreclosure Order of Procedure applies to all foreclosure cases filed in the court and is deemed filed in each case.

  • Opposition papers in a summary-judgment motion must be filed no later than the twenty-eighth day after the motion is filed.

Service

All 48
  • Applies to
    Complaint
    Service
    Personal service to all parties

    Every person listed on the PJR must be properly served with service of process.

  • Applies to
    Appointing judgment entry
    Service
    Court service

    For later-filed cases, the clerk must accept a time-stamped copy of the appointing judgment entry as satisfying the court-designation requirement for an eligible process server.

  • Applies to
    Standing special process server appointment

    A Standing Special Process Server's authority to serve process ends if the server fails to satisfy the rule's requirements during the appointment period.

Fees

All 31
  • Applies to
    Jury summons

    A party settling or dismissing under Civil Rule 41(A) on the day before or morning of trial must pay the jury-summoning cost if a jury was summoned.

  • Fee
    $25
    Applies to
    Financial disclosure form

    Submitting the Financial Disclosure Form triggers a non-refundable $25 application fee unless the court waives or reduces it; any assessed fee must be paid to the clerk of courts within seven days, and inability to pay cannot result in denial of counsel.

  • Fee
    25 dollars
    Applies to
    Standing special process server affidavit and order

    A $25 filing fee is required for the affidavit and order, payable into and applied to Common Pleas Court General Division Special Project No. 1.

About Judge Patrick J. Condon

Common Pleas Judge since 2019. Current term 01/01/25-12/31/30. The law established this judgeship effective January 1, 1841.

Common questions about Judge Patrick J. Condon's rules

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Patrick J. Condon?

Judge Patrick J. Condon's formatting rule includes file format docx. Requested jury instructions must be emailed to the court at least seven days before trial and submitted in Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section ORDER

What must be included with discovery notice filings before Judge Patrick J. Condon?

The rule requires page count. Civil discovery materials may be filed only on court order, as evidence, or for motion consideration, and a single-page notice identifying the request or response, issuance date, and recipients must be filed.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PRE-TRIAL ORDERS

What must be included with trial brief filings before Judge Patrick J. Condon?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Each counsel must file a trial brief with supporting citations no later than 14 days before trial.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL MATTERS

How may parties contact Judge Patrick J. Condon's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications. The rule lists email CommonPleasCourtV@lakecountyohio.gov. Proposed instructions must be emailed in Word to the court and opposing counsel and ordinarily should not be filed with the clerk unless preservation of appellate rights requires filing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL MATTERS

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Patrick J. Condon?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. The request must include reason for request. Every continuance request must be written, state the reasons, and be signed by both the party and counsel.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PRE-TRIAL ORDERS

What filing deadlines does Judge Patrick J. Condon set?

Motions in limine must be filed no later than 14 days before trial.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL MATTERS

What rule applies to service by email before Judge Patrick J. Condon?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: service by email. Neither the written nor electronic jury instructions should be filed with the clerk unless filing is needed to preserve appellate rights.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL MATTERS
Complete rules summary for Judge Patrick J. Condon

Civil discovery materials may be filed only on court order, as evidence, or for motion consideration, and a single-page notice identifying the request or response, issuance date, and recipients must be filed.

Every continuance request must be written, state the reasons, and be signed by both the party and counsel.

Motions in limine must be filed no later than 14 days before trial.

Responses to motions in limine are due no later than seven days before trial.

Each counsel must file a trial brief with supporting citations no later than 14 days before trial.

The deadline for filing trial briefs is no later than 14 days before trial.

Written stipulations must be submitted to the court by the morning of trial.

Counsel must submit written witness lists and exhibit descriptions no later than seven days before trial.

The deadline for submitting the written witness and exhibit lists is no later than seven days before trial.

A trial continuance requires a written motion supported by an affidavit or appropriate documentation, and unavailable witnesses or experts do not justify a continuance.

Date conflicts must be documented with the conflicting notice or a sworn statement stating the case number, jurisdiction, judge, and scheduling date.

All exhibits must be marked for identification before trial, with plaintiff's exhibits numbered consecutively and defendant's exhibits lettered consecutively.

Counsel must exchange a trial-exhibit list with descriptions, disclose and reserve identifiers for unavailable known exhibits, and state the evidentiary basis for offering each exhibit.

Objections to video or written deposition testimony must be raised by motion no later than 14 days before trial and identify each objection and its transcript or video location.

The deadline for raising deposition-testimony objections by motion is no later than 14 days before trial.

The court will not entertain objections to deposition testimony at trial.

Counsel must submit proposed instructions, verdict forms, and interrogatories no later than 14 days before trial.

The deadline for proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and interrogatories is no later than 14 days before trial.

Proposed instructions must be emailed in Word to the court and opposing counsel and ordinarily should not be filed with the clerk unless preservation of appellate rights requires filing.

Neither the written nor electronic jury instructions should be filed with the clerk unless filing is needed to preserve appellate rights.

Within 30 days after the case concludes, the prevailing party must submit a judgment entry reflecting the verdict or outcome.

The prevailing party must submit the judgment entry within 30 days after conclusion of the case.

Counsel must notify the court immediately when a case is settled or dismissed.

Settlement or dismissal entries must be filed within 30 days after notice to the court, and pretrial notices must be filed no later than the scheduled trial date.

Unless notification of settlement or dismissal is filed before the case is called for trial, the scheduled trial will proceed or the case may be dismissed for want of prosecution.

Contact the Court’s Scheduler directly by phone to request a hearing or continuance or report a settlement.

Contact the Court’s Bailiff directly by phone with questions about a received jury summons.

Counsel for an indigent defendant must be appointed by Judgment Entry, and a financial disclosure form must be filed in every case involving an indigent defendant.

Every pleading, motion, brief, or other filed paper must identify the preparing attorney and include Civ.R. 11 information, including an email address.

Requested jury instructions must be emailed to the court at least seven days before trial and submitted in Word format.

More Judges in Lake County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

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John P. O’Donnell
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Vincent A. Culotta
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