Columbus & Franklin County Criminal Defense | Direct Attorney Access: 330-265-6016
Columbus Criminal Defense Lawyer | Franklin County Representation
Facing criminal charges in Columbus requires an aggressive defense strategy built on Ohio state law and constitutional protections. While administrative procedures vary by courthouse, the fundamental rights guaranteed to the accused remain identical across every courtroom in Ohio.
Attorney Emmanuel Makris provides dedicated, trial-focused representation for clients facing state and municipal charges throughout Ohio, including Columbus and Franklin County. Operating with a transparent, flat-fee pricing model, Attorney Makris personally handles every phase of your defense—ensuring you have direct access to your attorney from initial arraignment through the final resolution of your case.
Representation Across Franklin County Courts
Effective legal advocacy requires applying rigorous, evidence-based defense strategies to the specific venue where state charges are filed. We provide direct representation for cases proceeding through major Franklin County jurisdictions:
Franklin County Municipal Court Defense
Located in downtown Columbus, this court is unique in that it has county-wide jurisdiction. It handles a massive volume of first-degree misdemeanors, OVI/DUI offenses, traffic citations, and preliminary hearings for felony arrests occurring anywhere within Franklin County, which includes:
Cities: Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Hilliard, Gahanna, and Upper Arlington
Townships: Franklin, Madison, Jackson, Prairie, Washington, and Norwich Townships
Villages: Obetz, Marble Cliff, Valleyview, and Minerva Park
Our Statewide Approach: Municipal court cases move rapidly. We step in at arraignment to advocate for reasonable bond conditions. We then demand full evidentiary discovery under Ohio Criminal Rule 16—including Columbus Police body-worn camera footage, cruiser dashcams, and breathalyzer calibration records—to rigorously challenge the constitutionality of the traffic stop or arrest.
Address 375 S High St.,Columbus Ohio 43215
Phone Number-(614) 645-8186
Judges:
General Division
Judge Jessica G. D'Varga(Administrative & Presiding Judge)
Year Assumed Office: Elected 2019 (took office January 2020).
Background: Earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Worked as a criminal and traffic defense attorney at Saia & Piatt, Inc., a labor and employment litigator at Ferron & Associates, and an automotive compliance attorney at Whann & Associates.
Judge Cynthia L. Ebner
Year Assumed Office: First elected 2015.
Background: Spent over 20 years in private practice handling criminal defense, traffic law, real estate, probate, and contract litigation across Franklin County.
Judge Mary Kay Fenlon
Year Assumed Office: Elected 2021 (took office January 2022).
Background: Longtime Columbus trial attorney with an extensive background in civil litigation and criminal law prior to taking the bench.
Judge Zach Gwin
Year Assumed Office: Elected 2023 (took office January 2024).
Background: Earned his J.D. from OSU Moritz College of Law. Served as a Victim Witness Advocate, Assistant Prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and Senior Assistant City Attorney handling public nuisance litigation.
Judge Bill Hedrick
Year Assumed Office: Elected 2021 (took office January 2022).
Background: Spent 25 years with the Columbus City Attorney's Office (1996–2021), serving as Senior Lead Prosecutor, Chief Prosecutor, Chief of Staff, and Environmental Prosecutor.
Judge Ajmeri Hoque
Year Assumed Office: Elected 2025 (took office January 3, 2026, succeeding retired Judge James E. Green).
Background: Earned her J.D. from Capital University Law School. Served as Lancaster City Prosecutor and practiced as a criminal defense attorney across 13 Ohio counties.
Judge Mark A. Hummer
Year Assumed Office: First elected 2009.
Background: Earned his J.D. from Capital University Law School. Served as a Municipal Court bailiff (1986–1992), court magistrate (1992–2009), and former journalist for the Columbus Citizen-Journal.
Judge Mike McAllister
Year Assumed Office: Elected 2021 (took office January 2022).
Background: Served as a Magistrate in the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, a private practitioner, and an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney.
Judge Jim O'Grady
Year Assumed Office: First elected 2011.
Background: Earned his J.D. from Capital University Law School. Former court bailiff; co-created specialized court programs including CAP IT (LGBTQ+ domestic violence intervention) and the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) recovery docket.
Judge Eileen Y. Paley
Year Assumed Office: First elected 2015 (took office January 2016).
Background: Private practice attorney and former Columbus City Council member (2009–2015). Active in expanding court diversion and addiction recovery initiatives.
Judge Andrea C. Peeples
Year Assumed Office: First elected 2005 (took office January 2006).
Background: Earned her J.D. from OSU Moritz College of Law. Served as legal counsel in the Franklin County Public Defender's Office, the Columbus City Attorney's Office (Civil Division), and the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office.
Judge Gina R. Russo
Year Assumed Office: Appointed/Elected 2021 (assumed office March 2021).
Background: Earned her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law. Worked as a civil litigator at Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP, an Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor, and a Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge (2019–2021). Presides over the L.I.N.C. mental health docket.
Judge Jarrod B. Skinner
Year Assumed Office: Elected 2017 (took office January 2018).
Background: Earned his J.D. from Capital University Law School. Served 12 years as a Columbus City Prosecutor prior to his election. Presides over standard cases and the Military and Veterans Services (MAVS) specialized docket.
Judge Jodi L. Thomas
Year Assumed Office: Appointed 2016 / Elected 2017.
Background: Earned her J.D. from Capital University Law School and is a licensed social worker. Former public defender; presides over the CATCH court (for human trafficking survivors) and h.a.r.t. (opioid recovery) specialized dockets
Environmental Division
Judge Stephanie Mingo(Presiding Judge, Environmental Division)
Year Assumed Office: Appointed 2018 / Elected 2019.
Background: Former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor, and corporate legal counsel. Presides over environmental, housing code, and animal welfare cases for Franklin County. Records available via Ohio Judicial Conference.
2. Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Defense
Situated at the Franklin County Courthouse complex in downtown Columbus, the Court of Common Pleas is the venue for major criminal offenses under the Ohio Revised Code. Regardless of where an initial arrest occurred within the county, all adult felony cases are prosecuted here. This court presides over felony indictments (Felony 5 through Felony 1), including drug trafficking, violent offenses, and complex financial crimes.
Our Statewide Approach: We bring a trial-first philosophy to every felony indictment. Rather than assuming a plea agreement is the only path forward, we independently evaluate the state’s forensic evidence, scrutinize search warrant affidavits for constitutional defects, and prepare the defense to be argued before a Franklin County jury.
Address - General Division is 345 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215.
Location & Hours
Building: Franklin County Courthouse / Government Complex
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Judge Karen Held Phipps(Administrative Judge)
Year Assumed Office: 2018 (Re-elected 2024)
Background: Served as a Magistrate in the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division and spent years in private practice specializing in family law, civil litigation, and criminal defense. J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Judge Kim Brown(Presiding Judge)
Year Assumed Office: 2012 (Re-elected 2018, 2024)
Background: Former court magistrate and long-time private practitioner handling civil litigation, domestic relations, and criminal matters. J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Judge Carl A. Aveni
Year Assumed Office: 2021 (Elected 2020)
Background: Spent 24 years as a civil litigator, ethics counsel, and partner/chair of the litigation department at Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP. J.D. cum laude from Boston University School of Law.
Judge Christopher M. Brown
Year Assumed Office: 2021 (Elected 2020)
Background: Worked as a Common Pleas Court Magistrate, Assistant Prosecutor for Franklin County, and Assistant City Attorney for Columbus. J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Judge Jeffrey Brown
Year Assumed Office: 2023 (Elected 2022)
Background: Served as a court magistrate and litigator with experience in civil and commercial law. J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Judge Richard D. Brown
Year Assumed Office: 2018 (Re-elected 2024)
Background: Practiced law for over 30 years in Central Ohio, representing clients in civil litigation, personal injury, and administrative proceedings.
Judge Kimberly Cocroft
Year Assumed Office: 2009 (Appointed by Gov. Strickland; elected 2010, re-elected 2016, 2022)
Background: Former Deputy Legal Counsel to the Governor of Ohio, law clerk to Ohio Supreme Court Justice Alice Robie Resnick, and private litigation associate. J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
Judge Michael J. Holbrook
Year Assumed Office: 2005 (Re-elected 2010, 2016, 2022)
Background: Spent 22 years in private practice (1983–2004) trying complex civil, criminal, and domestic cases across Ohio courts. J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Judge Julie M. Lynch
Year Assumed Office: 2005 (Re-elected 2010, 2016, 2022)
Background: Served as the elected City Prosecutor for Whitehall, Ohio, and as an Assistant Ohio Attorney General with extensive criminal trial background. J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Judge Stephen L. McIntosh
Year Assumed Office: 2006 (Re-elected 2012, 2018, 2024)
Background: Served as Chief Deputy City Prosecutor for the City of Columbus and worked in private litigation prior to taking the bench. J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Year Assumed Office: 2021 (Appointed by Gov. DeWine; elected 2022)
Background: Served 12 years as a Senior Assistant City Attorney in Columbus, litigated at Squire Sanders & Dempsey, clerked for two federal judges, and taught law as a visiting professor. J.D. from OSU Moritz College of Law.
Year Assumed Office: 2020 (Re-elected 2022)
Background: Served 26 years as a Senior Staff Attorney at the Franklin County Public Defender Office, specializing in complex felony and death-penalty trial defense. J.D. from OSU Moritz College of Law.
Judge Andria Noble
Year Assumed Office: 2023 (Elected 2022)
Background: Prior career as public sector legal counsel and civil litigator handling complex municipal and regional legal disputes.
Judge Jaiza N. Page
Year Assumed Office: 2019 (Re-elected 2024)
Background: Former Columbus City Councilmember and Assistant City Attorney in the Columbus City Attorney’s Office litigation division. J.D. from OSU Moritz College of Law.
Judge Mark Serrott
Year Assumed Office: 2010 (Re-elected 2016, 2022)
Background: Practiced as a civil and criminal defense trial attorney and court-appointed mediator in Central Ohio for over 30 years before his judicial career. J.D. from OSU Moritz College of Law.
Judge Bill Sperlazza
Year Assumed Office: 2023 (Elected 2022)
Background: Served for 16 years as a Senior Assistant City Attorney for Columbus, managing code enforcement, nuisance abatement, and real property litigation. J.D. from OSU Moritz College of Law.
Judge David Young
Year Assumed Office: 2015 (Appointed; elected 2016, re-elected 2020)
Background: Former Franklin County Municipal Court Judge, Assistant Prosecutor for Franklin County, private practitioner, and corporate litigation associate. J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.
3. Franklin County Juvenile Court Defense
Operating as a specialized division within the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, juvenile proceedings address delinquency allegations, underage OVI, and statutory offenses originating anywhere within Franklin County limits. While the juvenile system prioritizes rehabilitation, the long-term consequences of an adjudication can severely impact a minor's future.
Our Statewide Approach: We advocate to protect the constitutional rights of minors, contest motions for bind-over transfers to adult criminal court, and work to resolve matters in ways that protect the youth's permanent record and future educational opportunities.
Address: 373 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Key Locations & Contact
Main Court / Clerk of Courts: 373 South High Street, 4th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
Juvenile Intervention Center: 399 South Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone:(614) 525-3628
Judges: The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch, is served by five judges who hear both juvenile and family law matters.
Judge Kim A. Browne (Administrative Judge)
Elected: First elected in 2002; re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020.
Background & Legal History: Earned her J.D. from Capital University Law School. Before joining the bench, she served as a magistrate in the Franklin County Probate Court, worked as an Assistant Ohio Attorney General, and spent years in private practice specializing in civil litigation and family law.
Judge Elizabeth Gill
Elected: First elected in 2010; re-elected in 2016 and 2022.
Background & Legal History: Earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Her career prior to the bench included serving as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Franklin County (handling juvenile and grand jury proceedings), working in private practice, and serving as a magistrate within the Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court.
Judge James W. Brown
Elected: First elected in 2014; re-elected in 2020.
Background & Legal History: Earned his J.D. from Capital University Law School. Before taking the bench, he spent over two decades in private practice focusing on domestic relations, juvenile law, civil litigation, and criminal defense.
Judge Lasheyl Stroud
Elected: First elected in 2020 (term started January 2021).
Background & Legal History: Earned her J.D. from Capital University Law School. She previously served as a lead magistrate in the Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court, an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Columbus, and a public defender.
Judge George W. Leach
Elected: First elected in 2020 (term started January 2021).
Background & Legal History: Earned his J.D. from Capital University Law School. Prior to his election, he served as a senior magistrate in the Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court, an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Franklin County, and an attorney in private practice focusing on family law and probate matters.
Criminal Charges We Defend in Columbus, OH
We provide comprehensive defense representation across Ohio for a wide range of misdemeanor and felony charges, including:
Sex Offenses: Strategic, discreet, and aggressive defense against life-altering allegations, including Rape, Sexual Battery, Gross Sexual Imposition (GSI), Public Indecency, and challenging sex offender registry requirements.
OVI / DUI & Traffic Offenses: Challenging breathalyzer accuracy, field sobriety test administration, and fighting to protect your driving privileges from BMV administrative suspensions.
Drug Crimes: Defending against state and federal-level drug possession, manufacturing, Trafficking in Drugs, and Major Drug Offender (MDO) indictments.
Domestic Violence & Protection Orders: Protecting your rights against Domestic Violence charges, Assault, and defending against the issuance of Civil Protection Orders (CPOs) that threaten your home and family access.
Violent Crimes: High-stakes trial defense for Assault, Aggravated Assault, Felonious Assault, Manslaughter, Murder, and self-defense cases.
Weapons & Firearms Offenses: Defending your Second Amendment rights against charges of Improper Handling of a Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) violations, and Having Weapons Under Disability.
Theft & Property Crimes: Strategic defense for Petty Theft, Shoplifting, Burglary, Robbery, and Grand Theft.
White-Collar & Financial Crimes: Representation for complex financial allegations including Fraud, Embezzlement, Forgery, and Identity Fraud.
Juvenile Offenses: Protecting the futures of minors facing delinquency proceedings in Ohio juvenile courts, keeping focus on rehabilitation over punishment.
Record Sealing & Expungement: Helping eligible clients seal or expunge past criminal convictions to restore their employment opportunities and clear their public record.
Franklin County Corrections Center & Immediate Bond Hearings
When an individual is arrested and held at the Franklin County Corrections Center (Main Jail or Jackson Pike facility) or a municipal holding facility, immediate legal intervention is critical. Delaying representation allows the prosecution to present an unmonitored initial position on bail. We advocate forcefully at initial bond hearings to request reasonable pretrial release conditions, allowing clients to return to their families and employment while we build their defense.
Transparent, Flat-Rate Legal Fees (No Hidden Travel Costs)
Hiring a criminal defense attorney in Columbus should not involve unpredictable hourly billing or hidden monthly fees. Attorney Makris operates on a fully transparent, flat-rate pricing model for cases across Ohio. Before you sign a fee agreement, you will know the exact cost of your legal representation—including trial preparation—allowing you to focus entirely on your defense rather than worrying about the cost of a phone call. For cases in Central Ohio, any necessary travel adjustments will be clearly outlined upfront in your flat-rate quote. All flat fees are the complete cost for representation including trial.
Prices:
Minor Misdemeanor- $1000
Misdemeanor 4 -(M4): $1500
Misdemeanor 3-(M3): $1500
Misdemeanor 2 -(M2): $1500
Misdemeanor 1 -(M1): $1750
1st OVI: $2000
Felony 5 (F5): $3000
Felony 4 (F4): $4000
Felony 3 (F3): $5000
Felony 2 (F2): $7500
Felony 1 (F1): $10,000
Major Drug Offender (MDO): $15,000
Murder: $20,000
Fees are typical estimates including trial. We reserve the right to adjust for complexity and or travel. We have offices in the Stark County Area and near Lucas County. There may a flat transparent traveling fee that takes account the traveling time required to handle your case. Fees cover legal representation; clients pay court costs and 3rd party expenses. Fees do not include appellate representation in your particular case. We fight for your future.