The state's first court devoted to felonies stemming from domestic violence issues is open in Akron.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Paul Gallagher will preside over the domestic violence, which will be funded mostly by grants.

While the workload doesn't change for county judges, Gallagher said this will bring focus to cases of repeat offenders.

"One of the reasons we're doing this is to have some consistency in how domestic violence cases are handled," he said. 

"That takes some special understanding and the goal is to have a judge that's trained in that area that will be more sensitive to those issues."

Part of this initiative, is to develop an intensive probation program. He said a number of those facing charges, are repeat offenders.

Gallagher estimates one third of cases will end up with the offenders in prison, the second third will likely be sentenced to probation and he expects the final third to go into intensive probation.

He expects to handle close to 350 cases each year.

"We just have dozens and dozens of domestic violence cases," he said. "The more that victims feel they'd be treated fairly, and the more these cases are reported."