Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Issues 1st Advisory Opinion

The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association has just issued its first Advisory Opinion. Interestingly, the Opinion answers the question: "Do the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct restrict a lawyer's ability to have a sexual relationship with clients or others?" The short answer is yes, unless the lawyer withdraws from representation first. The full Opinion is available on the CMBA's website.

January 31st is Ohio Supreme Court Filing Deadline for M through Z Lawyers

If your last name begins with the letter M through Z, don't forget to file your CLE transcript form with the Ohio Supreme Court. This report shows your compliance with CLE requirements for the current biennial period. Even if you don't have the requisite hours, the Supreme Court's reminder indicates that you should file anyway, although late or incomplete filers may be subject to late fees and sanctions. Filing can be done by mail or online.

Ohio Supreme Court Denies License to Law Student with Too Much Debt

The Ohio Supreme Court has just denied a law license to an Ohio law student who owes $170,000 in debt. According to ABCnews, the Court's Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness thought he owed too much money without a "feasible plan to satisfy his financial obligations." Hard to believe, but the student has worked on getting his finances in better shape and plans to re-apply for the February 2011 bar exam.

Ohio Supreme Court Sanctions 407 A-L Attorneys on Eve of Filing Deadline for the Second Half of the Alphabet

The Ohio Supreme Court has sanctioned and fined 407 lawyers whose last names begin with A-L for failing to meet their CLE requirements by January 31, 2010. The list of the attorneys and their corresponding fines may have been timed to remind those in the last half of the alphabet what could await them if they fail to file by their January 31, 2011 deadline. Click here to read the Court's Press Release containing references to the Rules under which the Court requires CLE attendance and reporting, the absence of which is cause for sanctions.

Cleveland Law Library Is Answering the Call for Increasingly Needed Pro Bono Legal Services with Timely Ethics CLE

On Sunday, November 21, 2010, Cleveland.com reported that the need for pro bono legal services is rising, but "few attorneys meet pro bono legal goals." The Cleveland Law Library is trying to help answer the call for help by providing an Ethics CLE on December 8th in which the hour on Professionalism will be dedicated to pro bono service. Head Librarian Kathleen M. Sasala has prepared a comprehensive program detailing pro bono efforts locally, regionally and nationally, and she hopes to inspire those who have yet to reach out by providing pro bono and/or related community assistance. The Ethics CLE will also cover lawyer conflicts of interest and feature OLAP Associate Director Paul Caimi on the topic of substance abuse. All in all, it will be a great program. Click here to access our registration form, send an email to lawlib@clelaw.lib.oh.us, or call the Law Library at 216-861-5070, to register.

Ohio Jurors Who Visited Crime Scene Fined for Costs of Mistrial

According to the Mansfield News Journal, two (2) jurors who visited a crime scene over lunch, in violation of the judge's orders, have been fined for the costs of a mistrial in the case of a defendant accused of murder. According to the article, the jurors could have been sentenced to 30 days in jail, but Judge DeWeese only imposed monetary sanctions and made the jurors write apologies to the defendant, the families of the victim, and the other jurors. Who tipped off the judge?----another juror.

COA Judge Jones Served as a Visiting Judge on Ohio Supreme Court Panel

Yesterday, 8th District AppellateJudge Larry A. Jones, Sr. served as a visiting judge on a panel at the Ohio Supreme Court. Judge Jones was appointed to replace Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, who had a conflict of interest in an attorney discipline matter. Click here to read the Court's Press Release, and click here to listen to the case.

New UPL Rules Will Allow Ohio AG to Prosecute Cases

Starting September 1, 2010, new UPL rules for Ohio will allow the Ohio Attorney General to help the Ohio Supreme Court Disciplinary Counsel and bar associations prosecute cases involving the alleged unauthorized practice of law. Click here to read the Press Release, and click here to read the text of the new rules.

Last Names A-L: Don't Forget to File Your Ohio CLE Transcript

January 31st is fast approaching as the deadline for Ohio attorneys whose last names start with A-L to file their CLE transcripts with the Ohio Supreme Court. Per the Supreme Court's Press Release, filing can be done by mail or online. Don't forget!

Ohio Courts Vary on Use of Cell Phones at Court

We just conducted our annual ethics, professionalism and substance abuse seminar, and the professionalism session covered tech-etiquette between different generations of lawyers. IInterestingly, a new article from the Columbus Dispatch chronicles various court policies on the use of cell phones at court by lawyers, witnesses, court staff and media personnel.