BATAVIA, OHIO (Jan. 14, 2026) – Clermont County Judge James A. Shriver will be honoring the most recent graduate of the Family Recovery Court at a commencement ceremony Thursday, Jan. 15.
The ceremony will be held at Clermont County Juvenile Court beginning at 10:45 a.m. at 2340 Clermont Center Drive, Batavia, Ohio, 45103. The ceremony is open to the public. Please see the instructions below for attendees.
This will be the 23rd commencement ceremony for the Family Recovery Court since its inception in Clermont County in 2014. A total of 39 participants has graduated from the program.
“We are very proud of our graduates and think it is important to recognize their accomplishment with a special ceremony that allows them to share their journey to recovery with their family, friends and our integrated treatment team,” said Judge Shriver.
In addition to Thursday’s commencement ceremony, Judge Shriver is celebrating the court’s recent recertification by the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Recovery courts are required to be recertified every three years in Ohio. Certification is a rigorous process that takes several months of preparation that includes detailed documentation and an on-site visit by the Supreme Court’s Specialized Docket Committee.
“Our court received very positive feedback for our strong collaboration with partner agencies that include Children’s Protective Services, Child Focus, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA),” Judge Shriver added. “Our collaboration is essential to the program’s success and plays a critical role in helping families safely reunify.”
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy congratulated Judge Shriver and the Clermont County Juvenile Court for meeting the standards required for certification.
“Specialized dockets offer an alternative to incarceration, and reflect a community’s belief in second chances,” said Chief Justice Kennedy. “They focus on people who are willing to work to overcome the personal challenges that led to their involvement in the justice system. The court and community partners work together to supervise treatment, training and support, providing local solutions to local problems under leadership of the local court.”
Courts with specialized dockets address specific treatment needs of people who are charged with a variety of offenses that can lead to the removal of children from parents and caregivers. The programs focus on recommended best practices intended to address offender accountability, behavior change and recovery.
There are 255 certified dockets in Ohio courts with expertise in areas such as drug and alcohol addiction, mental health, domestic violence, human trafficking, and veteran-related issues.
Certification standards provide a minimum level of uniform practices for specialized dockets throughout Ohio and allow local courts to innovate and tailor programs to meet their community’s needs and resources.
Requirements include establishing eligibility requirements, evaluating effectiveness of the specialized docket, and assembling a treatment team to implement daily operations of the specialized docket. The team is headed by the specialized docket judge and can include licensed treatment providers, law enforcement, court personnel, and more.
The Commission on Specialized Dockets has 22 members to advise the Supreme Court and its staff regarding the statewide rules and uniform standards concerning specialized dockets in Ohio courts; the development and delivery of specialized docket services to Ohio courts; and the creation of training programs for judges and court personnel. The commission makes all decisions regarding final certification.
The Clermont County Family Dependency Treatment Court, now known as Clermont County Family Recovery Court, was initially developed in 2014 by Judge Shriver due to the high number of home removals by Children’s Protective Services, an estimated 45 percent.
The program requires attendance at frequent court hearings, office appointments, random drug screens, participation in substance abuse treatment and many other elements to support and encourage sobriety.
“We take a holistic approach to deal with all problems in a family to bring families together again permanently,” Judge Shriver said. “We have been successful in reunifying children to parents in very difficult circumstances. I am honored that the Supreme Court of Ohio recognizes the importance and great value in the program.”
Clermont’s program is supported by an Advisory Committee whose members include the judge, program coordinator, prosecutor, defense counsel, licensed treatment providers, child welfare representatives, the housing authority, public health, CASA, peer supporters, and other community partners. Together, these stakeholders support the core mission of the Family Recovery Court – helping parents achieve recovery and reunification with their children.
Judge Shriver served on the initial Advisory Committee on Specialized Dockets that developed the standards for Ohio and also served on the Commission on Specialized Dockets when created by the Supreme Court. He served nine years on the commission, including several as chair.
In addition, Judge Shriver started Ohio’s first OVI Court in Clermont County in 2005, another specialized docket for those charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Clermont’s OVI Court has served as a model for other Ohio courts and is still in operation.
Members of the media and public should enter the courthouse via the security checkpoint at the west end of the building. Proceed to Courtroom B on the right. Seating is available in the back of the courtroom. Please check with the court administrator on site if you wish to record the ceremony on video or take photographs.
