Steve Christopher at a glance
- Current role
- Common Pleas Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Ohio · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Steve Christopher
Common Pleas Judge · Hardin Co. Common Pleas Court
Biography
Professional career
- Since 2005, he has been an adjunct professor at Ohio Northern University, teaching undergraduate and graduate law-related courses, including a unique U.S. first-class on expert witnesses
- Steven D. Christopher is a judge of the Hardin County Court of Common Pleas in Ohio, serving on the Probate and Juvenile Division and appointed by former Governor John Kasich in 2013
- Prior to his judicial appointment, he held the role of acting judge in the Hardin County Municipal Court from 2005 to 2013
- Certified by the Ohio Supreme Court as trial counsel for death penalty cases
Education
- A lifelong resident of Hardin County, Christopher earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Ohio Northern University in 1981 and a J.D. in 1984.
Additional information
- He was selected in 1995 by renowned trial lawyers Gerry Spence, Richard “Racehorse” Haines, and Morris Dees for special training at the Trial Lawyers College.
- Christopher Vanwormer (1992), one of the first widely covered “gay bashing” murder cases
- Joined fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James Rapp.
- Known for creating three specialized dockets in his court — an adult treatment court, a juvenile drug treatment court, and a mental health court.
- He also presides over the Hardin Community School, a court-run charter school for youth expelled from public schools.
- He financed his education through various jobs, including labor work, and held a position as a trial attorney for nearly 30 years.
- Christopher has served on boards for the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Ohio Association of Justice, and the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers.
- He also held the role of associate counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund and referral attorney for the American Center for Law and Justice and the National Rifle Association
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 ↗