HIGHLAND COUNTY, Ohio – The future of the Highland County Court, Madison Township Division in Greenfield is under review as county officials consider whether the court will remain open following the end of Judge John Judkins’ term. According to documents provided to the Leesburg Times, commissioners began discussing the court’s future in late July and continued those discussions at their August 8 meeting.

The materials show that commissioners met with representatives from the court and the Highland County Sheriff’s Office as part of their review. On August 7, the commissioners sent a formal request to the Supreme Court of Ohio asking for information to help guide their decision. The request asked for caseload statistics, workload trends, comparisons with similar county courts, the number of cases that would need to be reassigned if the court were discontinued, and details on the process required to close a county court. The Supreme Court acknowledged receipt of the request on August 10 and forwarded it internally for review.

Greenfield Village Council President Amie Ernst provided the Leesburg Times with documents and public information outlining her concerns about the potential closure. Ernst stated that the Village of Greenfield had not been informed about the commissioners’ discussions until she brought the matter to the attention of officials. She also shared her understanding of how the court serves Madison Township residents and how closure could affect local agencies and community access to court services. The Leesburg Times is actively speaking with Ernst about this situation as part of ongoing coverage.

Ernst directed the Leesburg Times to public information available at SaveOurCourtGreenfield.org. The website includes caseload data showing that the court handled 976 cases in 2025, budget figures describing the court’s net cost after revenue returns, and analysis of how closure could affect law enforcement staffing, travel requirements for defendants, and access to court services for the 6,422 residents of Madison Township. The site also includes links to public documents, annual reports, and data referenced in local discussions. Ernst stated that she hopes a committee or organized effort will be formed to advocate for keeping the court open.

The website also includes a statement from Greenfield Police Chief Jimmy Oyer describing operational impacts if the court were removed. Oyer wrote, “Removing the only court in the township removes local access to eviction relief, small claims and account collection for local businesses, timely arraignment for residents, and a bench that both my officers and the Sheriff's deputies can reach without surrendering half a shift.”

Judge John Judkins provided the Leesburg Times with a statement. In his statement, Judkins expressed strong opposition to any proposal to close the Greenfield court. He wrote:

“As the sitting Judge of the Highland County Court, I am issuing this statement to express my strong opposition to any proposal to close the Highland County Court location in Greenfield.

Access to justice is a fundamental responsibility of local government. Closing the court in Greenfield would impose real and disproportionate burdens on the residents of Greenfield, Madison Township, and surrounding areas of Highland County. Many of these citizens already face significant economic challenges; nearly one-fifth of local residents live at or below the poverty line. Reliable transportation is a persistent difficulty for a substantial portion of the community.

Requiring residents to travel to Hillsboro for every court interaction creates unnecessary barriers. A simple matter such as a suspended driver’s license ticket would necessitate a 32-mile round trip. For individuals without dependable transportation, the result is predictable: missed court dates, warrants, and arrests. People would find themselves jailed not because of serious criminal conduct, but because they could not get to court. That outcome is neither just nor cost-effective for the county.

The Greenfield County Court also provides practical local access to essential services: the County Probation Department (where the assigned officer already carries the highest caseload in the department), community-service opportunities, Small Claims Court, civil debt-collection and garnishment actions, limited driving privileges, and eviction proceedings. Removing this local venue would make each of these matters more difficult and more expensive for the people who need them most.

From a fiscal perspective, the court is not a significant drain on county resources. Its total cost represents less than one percent of the county’s general-fund expenditures. Maintaining a local court that keeps justice accessible is a responsible and modest use of taxpayer dollars. Moreover, closure is unlikely to produce meaningful savings. The large majority of the court’s budget covers the two court clerks. If the County Court in Greenfield closed, the Municipal Court in Hillsboro would almost certainly need additional staff to absorb the increased caseload. The expense would simply shift from one court to another, while the human and administrative costs of reduced access would rise.

I will leave the Highland County Court bench in February 2027 upon assuming office as Judge of the Highland County Common Pleas Court, General Division. My opposition to closing the County Court in Greenfield is therefore not tied to any personal interest in remaining in the position. It is grounded in the duty to protect fair and practical access to the justice system for the citizens of Highland County, particularly those with the fewest resources.

I urge the Highland County Commissioners and our State Senator and Representative to reject any proposal that would eliminate this local court. The modest cost of maintaining it is far outweighed by the value of keeping the doors of justice open in Greenfield.”

While county commissioners are reviewing the court’s future, the authority to close or discontinue a county court ultimately rests with the State of Ohio. Any decision would require state level approval and adherence to statutory procedures.

The Leesburg Times has also contacted the Highland County Board of Commissioners, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, the Village of Greenfield, the Highland County Prosecutor’s Office, State Representative Bob Peterson’s office, and State Senator Shane Wilkin’s office for comment. Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders stated that he has only learned of the situation within the past couple of days and wants to sit down with the Greenfield Police Department before making any public comment. He said he will contact the Leesburg Times soon. Responses from other officials are pending and will be added as they are received.

This story is developing and will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.

If you have additional information or documents related to this situation, please send them to the Leesburg Times at [email protected] or call 937-403-0877.