Overview

Virtual Court Docket Forms E-Payment E-File

Garfield Heights Municipal Court (GHMC) has geographic jurisdiction of cases arising in Brecksville, Cuyahoga Heights, Garfield Heights, Independence, Maple Heights, Metro Parks, Newburgh Heights, Valley View and Walton Hills. The Court provides a range of online services to enable the public to move their case forward without needing to visit the courthouse.

E-Pleas | GHMC Docket | Court Forms | E-Payment | E-File

The Clerk of Court’s Office operates remotely online 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and 365 days per year and Virtual hearings are normally held between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and are conducted online through Zoom.us. Occasionally evening and weekend hours may be scheduled at the direction of the judge.

Except for certain evidentiary hearings and trials which a judge may schedule for an in-person appearance, court users may access the Court online for all other purposes. Online services include:

Payments of fines, costs and filing fees
Filing any documents
Checking the docket for each case to view filings, judicial orders and case status
Finding standard forms to print and file
Entering a first plea or change a plea in criminal and traffic cases in lieu of a first court appearance or to waive an appearance; requesting a public defender, scheduling certain hearings
Surrendering online where an arrest warrant is pending without appearing at the Court or a jail
Mediation in any pending matter
Find help in restating a suspended driver’s license or apply for driving privileges
Finding Zoom.com instructions for appearing at or observing a virtual hearing
Joining a virtual hearing
Remote hearings and trials

IMPORTANT NOTE: The E-Filing and E-Pleas are maintained by Henschen & Associates at the direction of the Court. This permits the Court to operate virtually without a multi-person IT staff. When filing or entering a plea online, the user will be directed to the Henschen & Associates website and will need to choose the “Garfield Heights Municipal Court” to begin.

GHMC Local Rules of Court

General Rules

Court Costs 1 Scope and effective date 2 Hours of regular operation 3 File management 4 Costs and filing fees 5 Pleadings and motions 6 Facsimile filing 7 Electronic filing 8 Appearance and withdrawal of counsel 9 Continuances 10 Recording of proceedings 11 Conditions for recording / broadcasting 12 Decorum and conduct 13 Random Judge Draw Deviation and Log

Criminal/ Traffic Division

14 Appearance of the defendant 15 Video hearings 16 Motion practice 17 Case management 18 Jury instructions 19 Sentencing 20 Community Control Sanctions 21 Violations Bureau 22 Selective Intervention Program

Civil Division

23 Security for costs/deposit for jury trial 24 Leave to move or plead 25 Motion practice 26 Disposition of motions 27 Case management 28 Trials 29 Trial briefs and jury instructions 30 Notification of settlements 31 Default judgment 32 Satisfaction of judgment 33 Forcible entry and detainer actions 33 Forcible entry and detainer actions 33.1 Motion to Seal Eviction Record 35 Proceedings in aid of execution 36 Traffic Camera Tickets

Small Claims Division

37 Authority 38 Purpose 39 Jurisdiction 40 Corporation as a party 41 Pleadings 42 Counterclaims and cross-claims 43 Third party claims 44 Continuances 45 Dismissals 46 Subpoenas 47 Transfers to the regular civil docket 48 Other pretrial motions 49 Trial 50 Evidence at trial 51 Objections to the magistrate’s decision

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On-line Services

Overview

GHMC Local Rules of Court