---
title: "Julie A. Schafer | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/julie-a-schafer"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Julie A. Schafer

Medina Co. Domestic Relations Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Medina Co. Domestic Relations Court
- State: Ohio
- Role: 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

- Administrative Judge of the Medina County Domestic Relations Court, a position she assumed in August 2022 and later won in the November 2024 general election for the full term
- Medina County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division — Appointed July 15, 2022 by Governor Mike DeWine to complete Judge Kovack’s term; elected in 2024 for the full six years
- The Administrative Judge of the Medina County Domestic Relations Court in Ohio, elected in 2024 to a full six‐year term after being appointed in 2022
- Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals — Elected in 2014, served six years (2014–2021), also serving by assignment as a visiting judge in the Ohio Supreme Court and other appellate districts
- A 1975 graduate of Medina High School, Schafer spent 11 years in Los Angeles in costuming and wardrobe work, including for Lucasfilm’s Star Wars, before returning to Ohio in 1988 with her daughter, now an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
- Official site: Medina County Domestic Relations Court – Judge Schafer
- She also held the role of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), guardian ad litem, and arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau

### Education



### Additional information

- Before joining the bench, Schafer practiced law for over 11 years in Northeast Ohio
- focusing on domestic relations, juvenile, and probate matters.
- Her work included divorce, custody, child support, post‐decree issues, civil protection orders, dependency/neglect/abuse cases, and probate representation.