The Summit County Domestic Relations Court is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. All visitors must pass through a metal detector upon entering the building. Firearms and other weapons may not be brought into the courthouse.
Magistrate trials and hearings are generally held on the third floor of the courthouse. Hearings or trials presided by a judge are held on the fourth floor. There are security desks on both floors; please check-in with the attendant upon arrival.
See: Holiday Closures for day in which the Courthouse is scheduled to be closed during normal operating hours.
The Summit County Domestic Relations Court is a division of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas. The Domestic Relations court has sole jurisdiction over civil cases involving divorce, dissolution, or annulment. In cases where parties have children, the court’s involvements continue until all children born to the parties have reached age eighteen and no longer regularly attend high school.
The Summit County Domestic Relations Court also has jurisdiction over all matters involving custody, visitation, and support of minor children, unless they are wards of another court. Cases involving juvenile court dependency, child neglect, or abuse are typically handled by the Juvenile Court. The Domestic Relations Court shares jurisdiction over domestic violence cases with the Municipal Court and the Common Pleas Court General Division.
The mission of the Summit County Domestic Relations Court is to provide fair, effective and compassionate legal resolution to conflicts involving families and children within the parameters defined by Ohio law.
The Court will provide equal access to a fair and effective system of justice for all without excess cost, inconvenience, or delay, with sensitivity to an increasingly diverse society. The Court will offer appropriate methods of dispute resolution and mediation services while preserving the constitutional right to trial by an impartial tribunal. The Court will ensure a safe environment for the public and will strive to implement innovative programs for the benefit of the community.
The Court hears and rules on Domestic Relations cases, which includes:
The Court operates under a framework of policies and procedures, as well as Local Rules, which together ensure the fair, efficient, and safe administration of justice.
Policies and procedures are designed to maintain safety, security, and order within the courthouse, creating an environment where all parties can participate in the legal process respectfully and equitably. (FIND OUT MORE HERE)
Local Rules, on the other hand, are specific to our jurisdiction and provide detailed guidance on how cases are filed, motions are processed, and hearings are conducted. (FIND OUT MORE HERE)
While distinct, these two bodies of information work together to support the justice process, ensuring consistency, clarity, and fairness for everyone involved.
If you have general questions you can call the Court at 330-643-2365 or email info@drcourt.org. You may also use the contact form here.
If you are seeking specific contact information or bios about Court Staff or Officers please review our Personnel & Contacts section below.
The CourtHouse will be closed on the following days in observance of the Holidays
FOR A PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION OF THE COURT HOLIDAYS CLICK HERE
The Domestic Relations Court is located in the Summit County Courthouse Annex:
205 South High Street, Akron, Ohio 44308.
The magistrate courtrooms are on the third floor and the judges’ courtrooms are on the fourth floor. The assignment office and Family Court Services offices are on the second floor.
(Facing South/South-East)
| | Katarina Cook, Administrative JudgeAdministrative Judge | Hon. Katarina Cook | (330) 643-2357 Judicial Attorney | Renee Gosney-Shea | (330) 643-2730 | rgosney-shea@drcourt.org Bailiff | Claire McIntire| (330) 643-2357 | cmcintire@drcourt.org
|
Kani H. Hightower, JudgeJudge | Hon. Kani Harvey Hightower | (330) 643-2080 Judicial Attorney/Magistrate |Ryan Kinney | (330) 643-8387 | Rkinney@drcourt.org Bailiff | LeNitra Little | (330) 643-2080 | llittle@drcourt.org Court Reporter (Judge Kani Harvey Hightower) | Ashanti Edwards | (330) 643-2361 | aedwards@drcourt.org
|
Thomas McLaughlin has worked in the court system for over 25 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron in 1995, and went on to receive a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Akron in 1999.
He began his career as a deputy clerk at Akron Municipal Court in 1993. While at the court, he became acquainted with Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh, who hired him to be her bailiff. In 2011, Thomas became a supervisor at Summit County Pretrial Services before he served as a bailiff for Judge Thomas Parker for several years.
Thomas became Judge Katarina Cook’s bailiff after Judge Parker moved to the federal court in 2016. He was appointed as Court Administrator by Judge Cook on January 25, 2021.
Christine Lindeman, Grant Writerclindeman@drcourt.summitoh.net (330) 643-2081 |
Audio Requests | audio@drcourt.org
Randy Flick is a graduate of Grace College and is a licensed Social Worker in the state of Ohio. Prior to coming to the court he worked for both the public and private sector and was honored as Social Worker of the Year, 1997-1998 1998. He started with the court as an evaluator in 2000, became trained as both a mediator and a parent coordinator and eventually became the Director of Family Court Services in 2008. As the Director he oversees the staff of five social workers, processes all referrals to mediation and evaluation, acts as a facilitator for the courts programs, speaks at colleges and other agencies regarding the court process and also carries a caseload of both evaluations and mediations. He is currently serving as a liaison to the Judicial College for the Supreme Court of Ohio, developing and creating training statewide for the social work staff in the state. He also sat on the committee to develop the Supreme Court guidelines for Parent Coordination. He is the past secretary to the Community Aids Network (CAN) of Summit County and volunteered with the Jaycees of Akron. A native of the Pittsburgh area he has been a Summit County resident for over 45 years and is proud of the services that our county has to offer. His favorite times are spent with his family and five dogs
Below you will find the Policies and procedures that are enforced by the Court to maintain safety, security, and order within the courthouse, creating an environment where all parties can participate in the legal process respectfully and equitably.
If you are looking for legal rules of procedure please review our Local Rules.
Effective: 03/15/2024
If you are filing a civil protection order go to the third floor room 327 and speak to an advocate OR call 330-376-0040.
Identify which CPO you need by watching the videos.
For help filling out a CPO speak to a confidential advocate from Victims Assistance Program (330) 376-0040
Effective: 09/07/2022
Although courthouses are not suitable places for children, sometimes there may be no other option.
Our Children’s Drop-In Center on the Third Floor provides child-care services from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and is available for use while you are at the Summit County Domestic Relations Court.
The center, which is managed by the Victim’s Assistance Program, has a caregiver on site.
Effective: 09/15/2022
In compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), individuals with disabilities shall be permitted to be accompanied by their certified service animals in all unrestricted areas of the Domestic Relations Court, and may attend any hearing, meeting or other event.
Emotional Support Animals (ESA), that are not trained to provide direct assistance to an individual with a disability and whose sole purpose is emotional support are not permitted in the Court. If an individual appears with an ESA, they will need to make arrangements to find proper care for the animal or the hearing or meeting will be rescheduled.
Effective 8/19/2021
Proposed exhibits for trials or hearings are not to be filed with the Clerk’s office.
| Magistrate Hearings | Judge Hearings/Trials |
| Please call the magistrates’ scheduler at (330) 643-5456 and bring the exhibits to the 3rd Floor security desk. | Bring exhibits to the 4th Floor security desk OR contact the judge’s bailiff. |
