Rule 49.02 - Designation of Commercial Docket Judges(A) Designation or assignment Each court of common pleas that has established a commercial docket pursuant to Sup.R. 49.01 shall select either of the following methods for designating or assigning commercial docket judges: (1) By majority vote of the judges of the general division of the court, designate two or more sitting judges of the division. A judge shall not be designated a commercial docket judge unless the judge agrees to participate and meets either of the following qualifications: (a) Within the previous six years, the judge has served on the general division of the court for at least three consecutive years;(b) The judge has at least seven years of substantial practice as a commercial or business-related litigator.(2) Request the Chief Justice to assign one or more retired judges to active duty on the court pursuant to Article IV, Section 6(C) of the Ohio Constitution. (B) Candidate considerationsWhen designating or assigning a commercial docket judge pursuant to division (A) of this rule, the judges of the general division of the court or the Chief Justice, as applicable, should consider each of the following:
(1) The candidate's length of judicial experience; (2) Any commercial or business-related education or experience the candidate may possess;(3) Any commercial or business-related litigation experience the candidate may possess, including any specific commercial or business-related litigation in which the candidate participated as an attorney or over which the candidate presided as a judge; (4) The candidate's case management expertise and experience, including case management of complex litigation; (5)For a sitting judge, the candidate's current caseload, including the number of pending cases the candidate may have that are beyond the time limits for disposition pursuant to Sup.R. 39(6) Whether the candidate has demonstrated a continuous commitment to the commercial docket concept;(7) For a sitting judge, whether the candidate demonstrates a willingness to assume any additional duties and responsibilities required by the commercial docket;(8)Whether the candidate demonstrates a willingness to participate in commercial and business law-related training and education;(9) The candidate's judicial temperament;(10) The input and opinion of the regional or local bar associations;(11) Any other relevant factors or qualifications.A court of common pleas that has established a commercial docket with sitting judges of the general division of the court serving as the commercial docket judges pursuant to Sup.R. 49.01 and division (A)(1) of this rule shall adopt a local rule establishing a length of term of no less than three years for the judges. Ohio. R. Superi. Ct. 49.02
Adopted February 26, 2013, effective 7/1/2013; amended May 21, 2013, effective 7/1/2013; October 7, 2014, effective10/7/2014; amended effective3/1/2017.