Juvenile History
A brief history of Belmont County Juvenile Court and the judges who have served the county.
The First Courthouse, Belmont County, Ohio
The first Juvenile Court in the State of Ohio was established in Cuyahoga County in 1902.
Belmont County established its Juvenile Court in 1909 under the direction of Probate Judge John C. Nichols.
Prior to the creation of the Juvenile Court, the Probate Court handled matters involving wayward youth
under the heading of “Juvenile Disorderly Person” in the Probate Court journal.
Based upon the population of Belmont County, the Probate Judge also serves as the Juvenile Judge.
The Juvenile Court generally has jurisdiction over matters involving abused, neglected, or dependent children;
unruly and delinquent children; parentage; custody; child support; and truancy.
The Belmont County Courthouse, built in 1886, remains the location of the Probate and Juvenile Court today.
The original two-story log structure was built in 1805. The second courthouse, built on the same location,
was made of brick in 1815 and served the county until 1885.
Belmont County Juvenile Judges
| Judge | Term of Service |
|---|---|
| John C. Nichols | February 9, 1909 – February 8, 1921 |
| Edward D. Meek | February 9, 1921 – February 8, 1925 |
| Lawrence Imhoff | February 9, 1925 – February 8, 1933 |
| Harry L. Albright | February 9, 1933 – February 8, 1967 |
| Edmund A. Sargus | February 9, 1967 – March 4, 1967 |
| Wilbur Y. Armstrong | March 31, 1967 – February 8, 1979 |
| C. Kenneth Henry | February 9, 1979 – February 8, 1991 |
| John J. Malik | February 9, 1991 – November 30, 1998 |
| J. Mark Costine | December 24, 1998 – May 7, 2018 |
| Albert E. Davies | August 6, 2018 – Present |