Columbiana Criminal Defense Attorney

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judges

Honorable Judge Scott Washam
Honorable Judge Megan L. Bickerton

Columbiana County Courthouse
105 South Market Street
Lisbon, Ohio 44432
(330) 424-7777

Hours of Operation: 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday, with the exception of holidays.

Comments

The Common Pleas Court handles foreclosures, personal injury cases, garnishments, administrative appeals, and many other kinds of cases in its civil division. In the criminal division, it handles grand jury indictments and creates and issues both summonses and arrest warrants – whichever is called for in a specific case. The criminal division also sends driver license suspension to the BMV, reports convictions to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, assigns judges to cases, and schedules arraignments. The domestic division handles all things family-related, including divorce, child support and custody, and non-criminal domestic violence, among other things.

Judge Washam took his seat on the bench in 2011. He was re-elected in 2016. Previously, he held the position of magistrate in the juvenile court. Before becoming magistrate, he served as Lisbon’s solicitor and practiced law privately.

Judge Bickerton is the first female judge to preside over the Common Pleas Court in Columbiana County. She was sworn into office in 2018. Judge Bickerton is a native of East Liverpool and attended Beaver Local schools. Prior to her election, she served as Lisbon’s solicitor and as an assistant prosecutor.

About the Area

Columbiana County is located along the border between Ohio and Pennsylvania and is nestled against the shore of the Ohio River. It was founded in 1803 and named for Christopher Columbus. The county’s largest city is Salem and its seat is located in Lisbon.

Columbiana County encompasses 535 square miles. It has an estimated population of more than 102,000. George Washington camped in the East Liverpool area in 1774, and Confederate raiders under General John Hunt Morgan were captured by Union soldiers in the West Point area in 1863. A monument was erected in that area to commemorate the event.

Columbiana County Municipal Courts Columbiana County Municipal Court

Honorable Mark A. Frost, Judge
Honorable Timothy J. McNicol, Judge

38832 Saltwell Road
Lisbon, Ohio 44432
(330) 424-5326

Hours of Operation: 8 AM to 4 PM with the exception of holidays

Comments

Municipal Court deals with traffic cases and non-traffic misdemeanors. It can hold preliminary hearings in cases where the charges are felony-level ones. The court also has jurisdiction over civil cases where the amount of money in dispute is not more than $15,000.00.

Judge Frost graduated from Salem High School and currently lives in Columbiana. He has two adult daughters. He is active in the community, including church and other local organizations. He loves to snow ski.

Judge McNicol served 26 years as the assistant prosecuting attorney for the county. He was also the solicitor for East Liverpool and the villages of Salineville, Rogers, and Lisbon. He spent 16 years as the only magistrate Wellsville ever had. He served in a similar capacity in Summitville and Salineville.

East Liverpool Municipal Court

Honorable Melissa Byers Emmerling, Judge

126 W. 6th Street
East Liverpool, Ohio 43920
(330) 385-5151

Hours of Operation: 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday, except for holidays

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Judge Emmerling graduated from Wellsville High School. She is married to an attorney, with whom she shares a son. They live in East Liverpool. She has been Municipal Court Judge since 1990. Her first job after law school was with a Cleveland civil litigation firm. From there, she took a position with the Prosecutor’s Office in Columbiana County, assigned to Juvenile Court. She served there six years. Eventually, she was promoted to the position of Felony Prosecutor. She also argues cases before the Ohio Supreme Court and the Seventh District Court of Appeals. Judge Emmerling attends Longs Run Trinity Presbyterian Church and is a member of the Calcutta Rotary Club.

District Attorney District Attorney Robert Herron

Columbiana County Courthouse
105 South Market Street
Lisbon, Ohio 44432
(330) 420-0140