Dana Preisse Private Judge

Private Judging

Are you looking for a private and expedited hearing for your case?

A private judge allows parties to expedite the resolution of their case, choose the date and time of their final hearing and avoid the potential inconvenience and increased costs of personal appearance at hearings at the courthouse. Judge Dana Preisse, an experienced and highly respected domestic relations judge, now serves as a private judge. While most parties prefer their final hearing with a private judge be by Zoom, the private judge can attend a hearing at the parties' location of choice. The parties must agree to refer their case to a private judge by entering into a written agreement with the retired judge that identifies the specific issues or questions to be decided. The parties must also agree to provide facilities needed by the retired judge for the proceeding and to compensate the retired judge for his or her services.

Since 1984, Ohio Revised Code Section 2701.10 allows retired judges to serve as private judges in Ohio courts for civil cases. The statute provides that retired

judges “shall have all of the powers, duties, and authority of an active judge of the court in which the action is pending.” [See R.C. 2701.10(C)].

Schedule with Private Judge Dana Preisse

About Judge Dana Preisse

Judge Dana Preisse retired after serving 25 years on the Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court. During her tenure on the bench, Judge Preisse presided over 50,000 divorces and dissolutions including complex cases involving significant assets and income. She heard contentious child custody disputes and understands the emotional and financial hardship that often accompanies the break-up of a marriage or partnership.

The attorneys who practiced in her court consistently rated Judge Preisse among the top judges in Franklin county in the Columbus Bar Association’s Judicial Performance Poll and her “temperament” rating in the poll was amongst the highest throughout her time on the bench.

Judge Preisse served as President of the Ohio Association of Domestic Relations Judges and remains an active member of the Association. She served as the Administrative Judge of her court for seven years.

In 2002, Preisse established the first drug court in Franklin County: Family Recovery Court for substance-dependent parents who have lost or are at-risk of losing custody of their children to the state.

Judge Preisse served for over a decade on the board of directors for The Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association.

Prior to her election in 1996, Judge Preisse was in private practice. Her practice included divorces and dissolutions and civil litigation cases including jury trials throughout Ohio.

Judge Preisse received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from The Ohio State University in 1982. She graduated from Capital University Law School in 1985.