Our Staff
Marsha Oyer, Office Administrator
Marsha Oyer graduated from McClain High School and attended Ohio University Chillicothe. She began working at the Highland County Common Pleas Court in 1988. She is the Office Administrator, Assignment Commissioner and Administrative Assistant to the Judge.
Her responsibilities include scheduling all civil and criminal cases, sending assignment notices, scheduling mediations, preparing Supreme Court reports and other reports for the Judge, and numerous other administrative duties.
Jaimie Hughes, Clerk to the Magistrate
Jaimie graduated from Manchester High School and attended the Kentucky Career Institute where she received her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies. She has been working in the legal field since 1996 when she began working for Rocky Coss in his private practice.
Her duties include serving as Administrative Assistant to the Magistrate, Assistant Clerk to the Jury Commission, Court Reporter, Assignment Commissioner and Civil Baliff.
Ben Reno, Chief Bailiff
Ben graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1998. He graduated from the Southern Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in 1999 and the Highland County Corrections Academy in 2001. He earned his Associate's Degree in Technical studies of Law Enforcement from Southern State Community College in 2001.
Ben was employed by the Highland County Sheriff's Office as a deputy from 2001 until 2015. He served as a supervisor in the Corrections Division with the rank of Sergeant until he was transferred to the Civil Division in 2013.
Ben was appointed as a part-time Bailiff in 2015 and became the full time Chief Bailiff for the Court in July of 2018. He is in charge of all security for the court, recording of all court proceedings, serves as the Court liason to the jail and assists other court staff in managing the Court's docket. He is also the Chief Jury Clerk which include drawing of jurors for all courts in the county, and handling all jury matters for the Common Pleas Court.
Dan Strain, Bailiff
Dan graduated from McClain High School in Greenfield, Ohio. He completed his Associate of Applied in Law Enforcement at Ohio University in 1976 and became employed as a Jailer/Dispatcher at the Highland County Sheriff’s Office. After he graduated from the Chillicothe Police Academy and received his Ohio Peace Officer Certification he became a road deputy.
While employed at the Highland County Sheriff’s Office Dan continued his college studies and received his Bachelor of Education degree from Ohio University in 1979 at which time he became employed as a teacher with the Greenfield school system. He received his Master of Education degree in Educational Administration from Miami University in 1982 and earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Education Administration from Miami University in 1984.
He served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and high school principal in the Greenfield school system for thirty-four years retiring in 2013. During that time, he retained his Ohio Peace Officer certification and worked part-time as a Special Deputy Sheriff for Highland County, served as a reserve officer for the Greenfield Police Department, an auxiliary officer for the Washington C.H. Police Department and a seasonal commissioned Park Ranger for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Dan was appointed as a part-time Bailiff for the Court in June of 2018. His duties include providing security for the court both in and out of court proceedings, recording court proceedings, assisting in managing the court docket, working with the court staff and assisting the public, parties, attorneys and witnesses at the court.