---
title: "Jason M. Despetorich | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jason-m-despetorich"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Jason M. Despetorich

Hocking Co. Common Pleas Court · Common Pleas Judge

## Profile

- Court: Hocking Co. Common Pleas Court
- State: Ohio
- Role: Common Pleas Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing exhibits

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance tells courts to include instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses when remote-hearing information is sent to participants.

Evidence excerpt: Instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing ground rules

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance recommends advance ground rules for documents, exhibits, screen sharing, and pre-marking exhibits for remote hearings.

Evidence excerpt: Documents: Share any documents/exhibits that will be reviewed in advance. Use the share screen function while documents are being discussed during the hearing. Request that the documents are pre-marked for exhibit purposes.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote recording

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance states that litigants, attorneys, and the public should be instructed not to record the hearing.

Evidence excerpt: The court should instruct the litigants, attorneys, and the public to not record the hearing.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Official roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Ohio Judicial Conference Directory official judicial roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Currently serving a nonpartisan term as Hocking County Common Pleas Court Judge – General/Domestic Division, with the term running until December 31, 2028
- The Administrative Judge for the Hocking County Court of Common Pleas in Logan, Ohio, presiding over both general and domestic relations cases, with a term through December 31, 2028
- Experienced Ohio attorney and judge, appointed in 2022 to the Hocking County Common Pleas Court, with a background in criminal and domestic law, serving a term through 2028 and actively managing both general and domestic cases in the county
- Governor Mike DeWine appointed Despetorich to the General and Domestic Relations Division of the Hocking County Court of Common Pleas on July 15, 2022, succeeding Judge John T. Wallace

### Education

- Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo — J.D.

### Additional information

- He ran for re-election in the November 5, 2024 Ohio General Election and the March 19, 2024 Republican Primary
- Began his term August 1, 2022, and must run for election in November 2022 to complete the unexpired term
- overseeing trials, hearings, and procedural matters in both criminal and domestic cases.
- Before joining the court, Despetorich ran his own law practice, Despetorich Law Offices, LLC, for 15 years
- focusing on criminal and domestic relations law, primarily in Hocking, Fairfield, and Franklin counties.
- He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association