ACLU Urges Amendments to Criminal Discovery Rules

The ACLU supports the Ohio Supreme Court's proposed changes to Crim.R. 16, the discovery rule. 

"'Allowing prosecution and defense equal access to all evidence creates a level playing field in courts,' said ACLU of Ohio Legal Director Jeffrey Gamso. 'Under the current system, prosecutors have a huge advantage over the defense because they can investigate and prepare evidence that the other side may not know about until it is presented at trial.'"

See ACLU Press Release 10/24/06. Also see:  Ohioans Deserve Open Discovery by Regina Brett, The Plain Dealer, Oct. 25, 2006. See our prior post:  Proposed Ohio Civil, Criminal and Evidence Rules.