Celina Municipal Court Judge Kathy Spielman recently joined Kevin Sandler on WCSM’s Spectrum to explain what her court handles day to day, and what it does not.

Spielman said the municipal court’s criminal docket is focused on misdemeanor cases in Mercer County, not felonies. She added that traffic tickets also move through municipal court, and in many cases drivers simply pay the waiver amount and move on. But when someone wants to challenge a citation, they have the right to come to court and be heard.

On the civil side, Spielman said the court hears cases up to $15,000. Anything above that is filed in Mercer County Common Pleas Court. She also described small claims as “the people’s court,” with a $6,000 limit and a process that often does not involve attorneys. Small claims are held on the second Friday of each month.

Evictions are another major part of the weekly schedule. Spielman said eviction hearings are held Monday mornings at 9 a.m., and it is common to have multiple evictions on the docket each week.

Spielman also walked listeners through arraignments, explaining they are not trials. Instead, arraignments are the first appearance where charges are read, the potential penalties are explained, and a plea is entered. If someone pleads not guilty, the case is then scheduled for a trial at a later date, including within Ohio’s speedy trial timelines for minor misdemeanors.

She said people often get nervous in court, even on routine cases, and she tries to slow things down and walk them through the process. She also encouraged residents to present themselves respectfully, saying she is still surprised at times by how casually some people show up dressed for court.

The conversation also touched on how the court balances accountability with connecting people to help, especially when cases involve addiction or mental health issues. Spielman said the goal is to follow the law while also working with local services when needed to reduce repeat offenses.

Spielman added that she is first in line in Mercer County to review search warrant requests, which can come in at any hour. She said electronic warrants have improved the process compared to earlier years when approvals sometimes meant late night travel or in person meetings.

She also reminded listeners that many penalties are set by Ohio law, especially for OVI cases, and that judges do not always have the discretion the public assumes.