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    You should have been given a ticket, citation, subpoena or other paper telling you where to appear. Please check the paper you received. (If you didn't receive anything telling you where to appear, or can't find it, see HOW TO FIND WHEN & WHERE A CASE WILL BE HEARD.) For traffic tickets, please see Traffic Cases below.

Arrive Early

      If you are scheduled to make a court appearance in the Hamilton County Courthouse, 1000 Main St., Cincinnati, OH 45202, please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled court appearance to allow sufficient time to pass through courthouse security. All persons visiting the courthouse are required to go through a metal detector. Weapons are confiscated or retained until the person leaves the building. Being late for court often has the same result as not showing up at all, see WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP FOR COURT.

     Courtrooms A & B are in the Justice Center (the jail) behind the courthouse. The address of the Justice Center is 1000 Sycamore St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Confirm You Are in the Right Place

    You can confirm you have gone to the right courtroom by checking the docket or list of cases posted outside of the courtroom. The docket shows the cases scheduled for that day in the courtroom. Here are COURTROOM PHONE NUMBERS (along with a listing of all Municipal Court judges and their courtrooms in the courthouse). The main phone number of the courthouse is (513) 946-6464. If the case you are to appear for is not on the docket outside of the courtroom, go into the courtroom and ask the courtroom personnel to help you find out where you should be, see also HOW TO FIND WHEN & WHERE A CASE WILL BE HEARD.  There is also a daily master list of all criminal and civil cases, for more information see Kiosk Computer Lists for All Courts.

Traffic Cases

    If you are to appear in court for a traffic case other than an OVI, you may well be required to appear in what is known as "Area" court. These courts are held in the early evening at the times and in the locations shown below. Check the ticket, citation or other paper you received for the correct time and place for your appearance. Question about an area court appearance should be directed to the clerk's office at 513-946-6041. If you are not to appear in Area court, your court appearance will be in the Hamilton County Courthouse, 1000 Main St., Cincinnati, OH, or in Courtroom A or B in the Justice Center, 1000 Sycamore St., behind the courthouse. The initial appearance on an OVI case will be in room 121 of the courthouse, if you have been cited to court or have made bond. If a bond needs to be set, the initial appearance on an OVI case will be in room A of the Justice Center. OVI (operating a vehicle under the influence) is the new term for DUI (driving under the influence).
      

    The courthouse, Justice Center and Area court facilities are wheelchair accessible. Hearing assistance equipment is available for the hearing impaired. Those with speech and/or hearing disabilities also can be provided an interpreter on advance notice by calling (513) 946-5200. Foreign language interpreters also are available on advance notice by calling Pretrial Services at (513) 946-6150.

Dress and Conduct

    While there is no specific dress or conduct code, dress and conduct will not be allowed to distract business in the courtroom. Security personnel in all courtrooms and public areas strictly enforce respect for court proceedings.