Abortion Rights
On September 14, 2022, Judge Jenkins issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting enforcement of Ohio's "Heartbeat Act" statewide in Preterm-Cleveland v. Yost (Hamilton County Case No. A2203203) Read the Decision Read the Coverage.
Judge Jenkins' decision was eventually appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, which remanded the case to him without a decision on the merits after Ohio voters passed a referendum titled " The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety" in November 2023.
In October 2024, Judge Jenkins ruled that several provisions of Ohio's "Heartbeat Act" are unconstitutional under the amendments to the Ohio Constitution passed by the 2023 referendum:
"Ohio voters have spoken. The Ohio Constitution now unequivocally protects the right to abortion." — Judge Christian Jenkins, Preterm-Cleveland v. Yost, October 2024.
The case has been remanded to Judge Jenkins for further consideration of various specific provisions of the Heartbeat Act.
Judge Jenkins is committed to the fair and impartial administration of justice. He approaches every case with an open mind, applies the law as written, and respects the rights of all parties to be heard. The descriptions of past rulings on this website refer to matters of public record and do not represent commitments or pledges regarding any pending or future matters.
Read the full story in The Guardian
Tenants' Rights
Covered by WCPO, WVXU, Local 12, and the Cincinnati Enquirer.
In 2025, Judge Jenkins declared the Kirby Avenue Apartments a public nuisance after residents endured sewage backups, mold, and code violations. The property was placed in receivership and sold to a new owner with a plan for remediation and improvement.
Also in 2025, Judge Jenkins issued a restraining order against Second Avenue, a national landlord accused of imposing illegal fees and renting homes in dangerous condition, protecting tenants from eviction and homelessness.
"Absent such injunctive relief, Plaintiffs will continue to endure irreparable harm related to violations of the Ohio Landlord Tenant Act, uninhabitable living conditions, forced relocation, and/or homelessness." — Judge Jenkins, Second Avenue ruling, August 2025
Judge Jenkins is committed to the fair and impartial administration of justice. He approaches every case with an open mind, applies the law as written, and respects the rights of all parties to be heard. The descriptions of past rulings on this website refer to matters of public record and do not represent commitments or pledges regarding any pending or future matters.
Read the full story at WCPO