---
title: "Sharon L. Ovington | KnowJudges"
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# Sharon L. Ovington

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio · Magistrate

## Profile

- Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- State: Ohio
- Role: Magistrate
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Ohio, serving from 2002 until her retirement in 2021
- On October 28, 2002, she was sworn in as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division
- Partner at Greger & Ovington (1995–2002)
- Assistant County Prosecutor in the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office (1981–1988)

### Education


### Additional information

- Magistrate, District Court, S.D. Ohio, 2002-present
- Served 19 years on the bench, including as Chief United States Magistrate Judge from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2016 In October 2021, she retired on October 22, 2021, and assumed recall status to handle re-entry court duties, emergency criminal matters, and mediations
- She also served on the Montgomery County Public Defender Board (1996–2000) and chaired key committees of the Dayton Bar Association
- handling misdemeanor and felony cases, civil litigation for county officials, and appellate work From 1988 to 1992, she was a Referee in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court
- Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ovington earned her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Cincinnati in 1978 and her J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1981.
- focusing on civil litigation, criminal defense, and death penalty/habeas corpus cases
- Chief Judge Algenon L. Marbley presented her with an engraved vase, commending her for “outstanding judicial service”

## 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.courtlistener.com/person/9478/sharon-l-ovington/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9478/sharon-l-ovington/)
- [U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9478/sharon-l-ovington/)
- [Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9478/sharon-l-ovington/)
- [Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington | Southern District of Ohio | United States District Court](https://www.ohsd.uscourts.gov/BioOvington#:~:text=BIOGRAPHICAL%20SKETCH&text=In%201978%2C%20she%20received%20her,the%20Montgomery%20County%20Prosecutor's%20Office.)
- [Former Magistrate Judges](https://www.ohsd.uscourts.gov/former-magistrate-judges)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9478/sharon-l-ovington/)
- [Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington | Southern District of Ohio | United States District Court](https://www.ohsd.uscourts.gov/BioOvington#:~:text=BIOGRAPHICAL%20SKETCH&text=In%201978%2C%20she%20received%20her,the%20Montgomery%20County%20Prosecutor's%20Office.)

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