02/04/2026
This morning, the City provided to the Court the report of the caseload study performed by the National Center for State Courts. The findings are no surprise to the Court and staff. It reflects the hard work, professionalism, and dedication of our staff, and we are proud of the team that serves this community every day. Specifically, the study confirms that Franklin Municipal Court meets and exceeds all applicable time standards and continues to handle its caseload efficiently. It’s important to bear in mind that the Court is a full-time Court and has a full-time staff. The only position that’s not full-time is the judicial position.
The study and analysis focus on caseload statistics to review whether the Court meets time standards and timely processes cases. Although the Court and staff cooperated with the study, Judge Ruppert opposed the expenditure of funds in the approximate amount of $20,000.00 to pay for the study. The information relied upon in the study has been provided to the City as part of discussions and is available to the public online via the Ohio Supreme Court. The Court has been very clear and is proud of the changes that have been made and work performed by court staff in efficiently processing cases.
While the findings confirm that the Court is performing well operationally, the study does not address the increasing demands placed on the judiciary or the broader benefits to the community of having a full–time judge available to serve the City of Franklin, Carlisle and Franklin Township. Franklin Municipal Court processes more cases than approximately 75% of all municipal courts in the State of Ohio with a full-time judicial position. As stated above, Franklin Municipal Court is a full-time court but without a full-time Judge. It’s also important to note that the State of Ohio pays the majority of the judicial salary. The Court is independent of the City but the City is one of the funding authorities for the Court. The additional annual cost to the City to have a full-time judge is miniscule compared to the overall yearly budget.
The Court remains committed to providing timely, fair, and accessible justice, and we appreciate the opportunity to continue this important conversation and improving service to our community now and in the future.
Please find the full report linked below:
https://cms2.revize.com/revize/franklinoh/Govt/Franklin%20Municipal%20Court%20Final%20Report%20Jan%202026%20R2.pdf?t=202602031637500&t=202602031637500
