Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Daily Legal News Awarded Contract to Publish Cleveland City Record

Cleveland City Council recently awarded The Daily Legal News (DLN) a two-year contract to publish the City Record. Under emergency ordinance 1076-07, published in the July 18, 2007 issue of the City Record, the DLN is charged with creating, editing, reviewing, publishing and distributing the City Record, "notwithstanding any provision of the Codified Ordinances to the contrary..." The Codified Ordinances are available for free on the Internet through findlaw.com, which is owned by Thomson/West, one of the largest providers of print and online legal research materials.

Update on Potential Public Square Hours

To supplement our prior post, the City of Cleveland published the proposed text of an emergency ordinance to regulate the hours people can stay in Public Square in the July 18, 2007 issue of the City Record. Without a permit, "unauthorized person[s]" would not be able to be or remain anywhere in Public Square between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. The proposed ordinance, which has been referred to several directors and committees, would give the Director of Parks, Recreation and Properties four (4) options by which to grant permits for Public Square as exceptions to the otherwise blanket rule.

Ohio Supreme Court is Restructuring Its Administration

The Ohio Supreme Court has announced that it is restructuring its existing administrative system. One of the key components of the new plan includes appointing Richard A. Dove to the position of Assistant Administrative Director. The Ohio Supreme Court's Office of Administrator Director is responsible for: strategic planning for the Court and Ohio's court system; providing oversight to other Court offices; assisting with special projects, initiatives, commissions, and task forces; and monitoring the General Assembly and legislative activity. Dove formerly served as the chief of the Attorney Services Division.  As Dove and others assume their new roles, the new plan will merge the Court's Office of Attorney Registration and Continuing Legal Education into the Office of Attorney Services.

Cleveland Publishes Community Ordinances & Resources Book

On July 18, 2007, Cleveland City Council published a brand new resource for local City residents called Community Ordinances & Resources. This booklet covers information on ordinances related to nuisances concerning noise, minors, and dogs, as well as ordinances on waste collection, property maintenance, building codes, permits and a lot more. According to the City's Press Release, the Council hopes it will serve as an FAQ containing common sense information that will help Cleveland residents follow the laws and report violations.

Ohio Suprem Court Security Visits Cuyahoga County Courthouse

Recently, at the request of some local judges, a representative from the Ohio Supreme Court Office of Court Security visited the Cuyahoga County Courthouse to evaluate current security procedures, evacuation plans, and emergency preparedness plans. In addition to meeting with local judges and interviewing some court and law library administrative staff, the representative reviewed the new Courthouse security system and current emergency plans for employees and visitors to the building. The Courthouse currently operates under a Security Policy and Procedures Plan that was amended on November 8, 2005 (Download _0726123843_001.pdf) and issued by Appellate Judge Patricia Ann Blackmon. That plan covers the Eighth District Court of Appeals, various courtrooms and offices for the Court of Common Pleas General, Probate and Domestic Relations Divisions. Presumably, the Supreme Court will issue a report on its representative's visit to all of the offices in the building.

Now You Can Get A Law Degree Online

Joining the many colleges and universities that offer distance education for undergraduate degrees, there is now a law school that offers online legal degrees. The Thomas Jefferson School of Law is now the first law school in the United States to offer online legal degrees accredited by the American Bar Association. Even though the weather in San Diego, California is usually beautiful, you don't have to travel there to obtain an LL.M., (Master of Law), a J.S.M. (Master of Science of Laws) or a J.S.D. (Juris Scientiae Doctor)  through the Diamond Law Program in International Tax and Financial Services.

New Rules Coming at U.S. Supreme Court

Thanks to Chuck Kallendorf at the Cincinnati Law Library for advising us that the United States Supreme Court has issued revisions to its Rules of Court that will be effective on October 1, 2007. The new rules address page limitations, briefing schedules, electronic filing, and amicus curiae briefs and filing. The Supreme Court has issued a Press Release, and there is also a 20 page summary available on the Internet. Click here to read the full text of all of the Rules of the Supreme Court that will be in effect in October.

Legal Dockets Online Offering 30-Day Free Trial

Court Dockets Online is offering a free 30-day trial of its product. This company offers access to public records and dockets from federal, state, bankruptcy and selected local courts.

Ohio's Child Pornography Laws Are Constitutional

In an opinion issued today in State v. Tooley, 2007-Ohio-3698, the Ohio Supreme Court held that Ohio's child pornography laws are constitutional. Specifically, the Court held that ORC 2907.322 and ORC 2907.323 are not unconstitutionally overbroad. However, the Court also held that in order to convict someone under the law, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that an actual child was depicted in pornographic material. This clarification makes clear that virtual images of children that do not depict actual children are not grounds for a conviction.

Cleveland May Hire Collection Agent to Recover Red Light Camera Fines

The City of Cleveland is considering a possible amendment to its ordinances to allow its Director of Finance to hire a collection agent to collect unpaid judgments, costs and other City receivables, including fines imposed for violations of Cleveland's red light camera ordinance, No. 413.031 captioned "Use of Automated Cameras to Impose Civil Penalties upon Red Light and Speeding Violators." If passed, this emergency ordinance (No. 1029-07) would amend existing section 5 of Ordinance 176-A-05 and add new sections 149.11and 413.032.