John M. Holcomb at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Ohio · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John M. Holcomb
Judge · Butler Co. Probate Court
Biography
Professional career
- Position and Tenure: John M. Holcomb is the Judge of the Butler County Common Pleas Court, Probate Division, having taken office on February 9, 2021
- Practiced intellectual property and bankruptcy law at Irell & Manella and Knobbe Martens, becoming a partner in 2002
- Served in the U.S. Navy — 1980–1989, including active duty as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the USS New Jersey and with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon
- U.S. Navy (1980–1989), including Surface Warfare Officer aboard USS New Jersey and service with Joint Chiefs of Staff at Pentagon
- Position and Tenure: John W. Holcomb is a United States District Judge for the Central District of California
- There are two prominent judges named John Holcomb: John M. Holcomb, serving in Butler County, Ohio, and John W. Holcomb, a U.S. District Judge in California
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois, Judge Ronald Barliant — law clerk
- John W. Holcomb – Federal judge in California, with a background in intellectual property, bankruptcy law, and military service
Education
- J.D.–M.B.A., Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School (1993), cum laude
- Miami University in — B.A. (1988)
Additional information
- Nominated by President Donald Trump in November 2019 and confirmed by the Senate in September 2020, receiving his commission on September 18, 2020
- a Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1991, where he was a member of the Federalist Society Legal Career: Holcomb served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Butler County from 1993 to 2000 and represented indigent clients in federal court as part of the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio CJA Panel from 2001 to 2006
- B.S., Civil Engineering, MIT (1984)
- He has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, Ohio Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Professional Recognition: He was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for his legal achievements and has handled civil cases, including wrongful death and medical malpractice trials, across multiple Ohio counties Personal Life: Holcomb resides in Hamilton, Ohio, with his wife, Karen, and their two children
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
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.
Instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses.Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings ↗
Statewide
Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance recommends advance ground rules for documents, exhibits, screen sharing, and pre-marking exhibits for remote hearings.
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 ↗
Statewide
Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance states that litigants, attorneys, and the public should be instructed not to record the hearing.
The court should instruct the litigants, attorneys, and the public to not record the hearing.Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 27, 2026.
Ohio Judicial Conference Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View Ohio Judicial Conference Directory official judicial roster ↗Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings ↗