A Guide to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Southern District of Ohio

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio handles cases across the central and southern tiers of the state, serving across 47 counties with divisional offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton.

This guide provides essential contact information for the Clerk’s Office, judges, and staff.

By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).

Filing Volume and Case Distribution

Bankruptcy activity in the Southern District remains steady, with most cases filed under Chapter 7 and a smaller but consistent share proceeding through Chapter 13 repayment plans. The district’s recent filing totals are summarized below.

Southern District of Ohio Bankruptcy Filings (2023–2025)

Year	Chapter 7	Chapter 13	Total Filings
2025	8,228	3,518	11,746
2024	7,642	3,379	11,021
2023	6,327	3,062	9,389

Source: U.S. Courts.

Jurisdiction and Filing Divisions

The 47 counties of the Southern District are segmented into three primary divisions. Case venue and assignment are determined by the debtor’s county of residence or principal place of business.

Cincinnati Division (Western Division)

Counties Served: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Highland, Lawrence, and Scioto.
Courthouse Location: Atrium Two, 221 East Fourth Street, Suite 800, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
General Contact: (833) 809-1611.

Chief Judge Beth A. Buchanan

Staff Role	Name	Phone Number
Courtroom Deputy	Heather Gilliam	(513) 684-2468
Law Clerk	A. Ryan Cunningham	(513) 684-6725
Law Clerk	Colleen Militello	(937) 225-2829

Columbus Division (Eastern Division)

Counties Served: Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Union, Vinton, and Washington.
Courthouse Location: 170 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215.
General Contact: (833) 809-1611.

Judge John E. Hoffman, Jr.

Staff Role	Name	Phone Number
Courtroom Deputy	Kristie Vickers	(614) 469-7704
Law Clerk	Brian Gifford	(614) 469-7710

Judge Mina Nami Khorrami

Staff Role	Name	Phone Number
Courtroom Deputy	Rebecca Hess	(614) 469-2053
Law Clerk	Kristin Wehrmann	(614) 469-7751
Law Clerk	Daniel Anderson	(614) 427-5793

Judge Tiffany Strelow Cobb

Staff Role	Name	Phone Number
Courtroom Deputy	Kristie Vickers	(614) 469-7704
Law Clerk	Brian Gifford	(614) 469-7710
Law Clerk	Abby Swartz	(614) 469-7706

Dayton Division (Western Division)

Counties Served: Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, and Warren.
Courthouse Location: 120 West Third Street, Dayton, OH 45402.
General Contact: (833) 809-1611.

Judge Tyson A. Crist

Staff Role	Name	Phone Number
Courtroom Deputy	Joni Behnken	(937) 225-2863
Law Clerk	Neil Berman	(937) 225-7835

Clerk’s Office Information

Administrative Role	Name	Phone Number
Clerk of Court	Richard Jones	(833) 809-1611

Security Reminder: Strict federal facility guidelines apply across all divisions; every visitor must display a valid, government-issued photo identification card to secure entry into any courthouse location.

Conclusion

Litigation and administrative practice within the Southern District of Ohio operate under distinct local bankruptcy rules, and specific chambers guidelines. Because judicial preferences, form requirements, and electronic filing protocols are subject to periodic revision, attorneys and pro se filers must verify current requirements directly through the official U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio website prior to submitting filings.

Professor Hernandez is an attorney specializing in consumer finance and debt relief. He is the author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge) and teaches law and finance courses in both English and Spanish at an international university.

Educational Resources

For Institutions: Colleges and universities may request examination copies of my textbook directly from Routledge Publishing.
For Students & Practitioners: Single print and digital copies are available via Amazon Books.
Video Lectures: Stream comprehensive legal breakdowns and video explanations on the Bankruptcy.blog YouTube Channel.

Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources

Explore additional consumer guides and state-specific directories to navigate your legal options:

A step-by-step master guide to completing and understanding the bankruptcy petition.
Bankruptcy Court Directory: Full listings for the federal bankruptcy court system and trustee contact information.
State Bankruptcy Exemptions: Review your state‑specific exemptions or compare them with the federal exemptions.
341 Meeting Procedures: Prepare for your court date with updated rules, expectations, and practical guidance.

Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.