Pickaway County Common Pleas
The Honorable Matthew H. Chafin
Common Pleas Judge
- Location
- 207 South Court Street
Circleville, OH 43113 - Phone
- (740) 474-6026
- Fax
- (740) 477-6334
- Magistrates
- Magistrate Rick Noble
Magistrate Loribeth Kowalski
About the Court
The Court of Common Pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the State. They are the only trial courts created by the Ohio Constitution (in Article IV, Section 1). The duties of the courts are outlined in Article IV, Section 4. Each of Ohio's 88 counties has a Court of Common Pleas. The Ohio General Assembly (the state legislature) has the power to divide Courts of Common Pleas into divisions, and has done so, establishing General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate divisions:
- General divisions have original jurisdiction in all criminal felony cases, all civil cases in which the amount in controversy is more than $15,000, and all cases involving title to real estate, excepting eviction matters. General divisions also have appellate jurisdiction over the decisions of some state administrative agencies and of city agencies.
- Domestic Relations divisions have jurisdiction over proceedings involving divorce (dissolution of marriage), annulment, legal separation, spousal support, parental rights, children, etc.
Jury service
- Jury Commissioners
- Betty Caudill and Betsy Richards
- Jury telephone line
- 740-420-7840
- Jury email address
- jury@pickawaycountyohio.gov
Forms & Documents
- Local Rules Issued September 15, 2026 · effective June 30, 2026 Open Local Rules — Local Rules of the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court
- Filing at the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court Read the guide — Filing at the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court
- Jury Duty Forms Read and fill in — Jury Duty Information and Forms
Court directory
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| Name | Position | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| The Honorable Matthew H. Chafin | Common Pleas Judge | 740-474-6026 |
| Deanna Reeser dreeser@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Court Administrator Court Reporter |
740-474-6027 740-420-5421 (fax) |
| Shawn Davis sdavis@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Court Bailiff Court Investigator |
740-477-3760 740-477-6334 (fax) |
| Anna Williams awilliams@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Assignment Commissioner Jury Administrator |
740-420-5431 740-477-6334 (fax) |
| Magistrate Beth Kowalski bkowalski@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Civil Magistrate Staff Attorney/Mediator |
740-477-3637 740-477-6334 (fax) |
| Magistrate Rick Noble | Domestic Magistrate | 740-477-3840 |
| Valerie Travis vtravis@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Domestic Administrative Assistant | 740-477-3840 740-420-5422 (fax) |
| Kurt Stewart kstewart@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Chief Probation Officer | 740-420-5430 740-420-5424 (fax) |
| Kellen Hedges khedges@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Probation Officer Drug Court Coordinator |
740-474-2058 740-420-5424 (fax) |
| Melissa Bennett mbennett@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Probation Officer | 740-477-1680 740-420-5424 (fax) |
| Payton Speakman pspeakman@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Probation Officer | 740-420-5425 740-420-5424 (fax) |
| Sam Fulknier sfulknier@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Probation Officer | 740-474-6426 740-420-5424 (fax) |
| Tamara Robison trobison@pickawaycountyohio.gov |
Probation Administrative Assistant | 740-474-8376 740-420-5424 (fax) |
| Magistrate Carrie Charles | Child Support Magistrate | 740-474-8043 |