If passed, H.B. 154 would eliminate Mayor's Courts in Ohio and transfer jurisdiction over their cases to local municipal courts. H.B. 154 was introduced in the House in April, but the Plain Dealer reports that recent revisions to the Bill would allow a limited number of townships/villages meeting statutory criteria to establish a community court with a magistrate from the muni court. Mayors and council members would be granted a nominal right to participate in the process of selecting the magistrate. Click here for a continually updated status report on the Bill from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. The proposed revisions should be available within the next day or so.
