What court is responsible for conducting initial appearances?

Question

What court is responsible for conducting initial appearances?

Answer

In Ohio, usually the municipal court conducts the arraignments, even for the felonies. If the case is a misdemeanor, then the muni court randomly assigns it to a judge (unless the muni court only has one judge). If it is a felony, the case is then "dismissed for indictment" and the file is sent over to the court of common pleas where the prosecutor presents it to a grand jury who votes on whether or not to charge the accused with a crime or not.