Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Ohio Court Funding Task Force To Examine Funding, Alternative Models and Court Futures

The Ohio Supreme Court Task Force on Court Funding has a big job ahead, and it appears that all possible stakeholders are involved. According to a Supreme Court Press Release on March 23rd, Justice O'Connor gave the Task Force the following charges:

"This task force will examine the current structure and the funding of the judicial branch," Chief Justice O’Connor said. "Over your time together, the charge of this task force will be to identify the method and manner by which Ohio courts are funded; determine the long-term efficacy of the current funding models; and review possible alternatives that might provide sustained and consistent funding for Ohio courts."

Ohio Supreme Court Task Force Report Recommends Commercial Dockets for Qualified Courts

The Ohio Supreme Court's pilot commercial docket project is apparently a success. According to a Task Force report issued by the Court, "certain qualified courts can create separate dockets to resolve business-to-business disputes." Locally, the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court has been participating in the pilot project since 2009 and handling cases which the Supreme Court indicates include "business liquidations, trade secret disputes, non-compete contracts, and shareholder disagreements." Other recommendations from the Task Force report include:

1. Expanding the program to other courts by setting the parameters for which courts can establish commercial dockets.
2. Requiring commercial docket judges to complete additional continuing education requirements.
3. Creating a new Commission on Commercial Dockets to oversee the program.
4. Operating commercial dockets with at least two judges.

New Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice System Will be Fully Open to Public on October 11, 2011

Today marks the last day of business for the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court at its current facility on East 22nd. The Court is in the process of moving into the new Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center (CCJJC) located at 9300 Quincy Ave. in Cleveland, Ohio. The building will be fully open to the public starting on October 11, 2011, but filings will be accepted at the CCJJC beginning on October 3rd, when the court will also begin to hear emergency custody, detention arraignments, adult jail, and civil protection matters at the new facility. For questions, you can call (216) 443-8400 for more information. Click here for a video tour of the new facility.

Cuyahoga County Probate Court Posts New Mediation Rules

On September 23, 2011, the Cuyahoga County Probate Court posted changes to its mediation rules that affect Local Rules 11.1, 16.1 and 53.1. The new Rules can be found at this link on the Court's website. As we indicated in a prior post, the Probate Court began offering mediation services earlier this month.

Pamela A. Barker Appointed to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Bench

The Governor has appointed Brecksville attorney Pamela A. Barker to replace former Judge Stephen Terry on the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas bench. Barker will take office on September 19, 2011, but she will have to run in the November 2012 election. The Ohio Supreme Court's press release contains information about Barker's legal background.

Ohio Supreme Court Adopts New and Revised Standard Probate Forms

The Ohio Supreme Court has adopted "new and revised standard probate court forms that concern personal identifiers, wrongful death and survival claims settlements, and petitioner’s accounts." Click here to review the new language. The new changes become effective very soon on September 1, 2011.

Cuyahoga County CP Judge Michael P. Donnelly Identified as a "Justice System Leader"

Local Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael P. Donnelly has been identified as a "justice system leader" and nominated by the Ohio Supreme Court to participate in a 2-year long, national leadership and mangement initiative of the National Judicial College. The Supreme Court's press release quotes Judge Donnelly as saying:  “I look forward to developing new skills designed to improve our Justice System.”

Court Filings Are Down in Ohio, According to Ohio Supreme Court

For the second year in a row, court filings are down in the state of Ohio. That is according to the latest Ohio Courts Statistical Summary and Report from the Ohio Supreme Court. Overall, case filings are down about 5%, with the greatest decline in municipal and county court cases. Click here to read the Court's press release summarizing the statistics.

New Judgment Entry Forms for Divorce and Dissolution Are Now in Effect in Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court

New judgment entry forms for divorce and dissolution became effective this week in Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. The new forms are available at the Court's website.

State Budge Cuts May Cause Backlogs and Layoffs in Courts, So Suggests Bloomberg BusinessWeek

According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, state budget cuts may soon cause backlogs and layoffs in courts across the country. The article on the cuts quotes ABA President Stephen Zack, who will be in Cleveland tomorrow at the City Club for Law Day celebrations.