Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Big Changes Coming for Traffic Tickets and Rules

Effective January 1, 2010, new changes are coming to Ohio's traffic ticket Rules. The Ohio Supreme Court has created a new traffic ticket for officers to use when they run out of their current supplies, and there are new rules that will change deadlines and allow for more cases to be disposed of without an appearance. The new ticket will only require 4 digits of a defendant's social security number but add room for the citing officer to report prior OVI convictions. Click here to read more about the new Rules.

Ohio Supreme Court Adopts New Pro Hac Vice Rules, effective 1/1/2011

Effective 1/1/11 (not 1/1/10), the Ohio Supreme Court will significantly chang the rules for out-of-state lawyers who want to be admitted to practice for a limited purpose in an Ohio case. Under amendments to Rule XII of the Rules for the Governement of the Bar, all pro hac vice admissions will have to go through the Supreme Court's Office of Attorney Services starting in 2011. All applicants will also have to pay a $100 fee and sign an "acknowledgement of Ohio’s attorney disciplinary rules and a statement that the attorney has not appeared more than three times in a calendar year in a pro hac vice capacity." Click here for a link to the new Rules in Word format.

Ohio Supreme Court Suspends Less Than 1% of Ohio Attorneys

Most of Ohio's attorneys got their biennial registrations in on time this year. The Ohio Supreme Court only had to suspend 233 attorneys state-wide, which is less than 1% of the total attorneys registered in Ohio, i.e., 57,311. Click here for a list of those who failed to file on time and have thus been suspended. They can get reinstated by paying a hefty reinstatement fee of $300.

Almost 1,000 Pass the Ohio Bar Exam

In typical Halloween-time tradition, the July Ohio Bar Exam results are out. According to the Ohio Supreme Court, almost 1,000 candidates passed the July 2009 bar exam at the rate of 81.3% of all test takers. First-timers scored a little better at an 87.8% success rate. Click here to open the entire list of happy candidates who will be sworn in at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 9th.

Last Day for Attorneys to Register with Ohio Supreme Court

Today is the last day attorneys can register late with the Ohio Supreme Court. The Ohio Supreme Court has warned that it will suspend all attorneys who do not pay their $350 biennial registration plus a $50 late fee by today, November 2nd. Attorneys can register by mail or online by clicking the "biennial Attorney Registration" link on the right hand side of the Ohio Supreme Court's front page.

Guidance Issued by Ohio SCt. on Domestic Violence in Later Life

The Ohio Supreme Court has issued a short report on domestic violence in later life. The report contrasts this type of violence with elder abuse against persons over 60. The report then defines the markers of domestic violence, identifies the types of abusers and victims, and suggests roles the court can play. The article concludes by summarizing the scope and mission of the Ohio Supreme Court's Domestic Violence Program.

Ohio Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of Drunk Driving Jail Time

On Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a 10-day jail term for repeat drunk driving offenders who refuse to take a breath test when they are pulled over. The decision was close with a 4-3 vote that overturned the 3rd Circuit's decision, which had concluded that the law was an unreasonable search and seizure. Justice Lanzinger wrote the majority opinion, but Justices Pfeifer, Moyer and O'Donnell dissented chiefly on the basis that prior decisions had only imposed administrative penalties for failure to agree to a chemical test. The opinion can be found at this link, and you can click here to read a summary from the Ohio Supreme Court's Press Release.

Ohio Civil Rights Commission Creates Hall of Fame

The Ohio Civil Rights Commission has created a brand new Hall of Fame and inducted 10 citizens who the OCRC recognizes as having "made significant contributions to the progress of the civil rights and equal justice in the State of Ohio." Two former Ohio Judges made the list: former Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Robert M. Duncan and former Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Carl B. Stokes. Justice Duncan was the first African-American on the Supreme Court.

Ohio Supreme Court Postpones New Rules for Access to Court Records

The Ohio Supreme Court has postponed implementation of new rules for access to court records that were supposed to take effect in May. Instead of May 1st, the new rules will take effect on July 1st. According to the Court's Press Release, the Court extended the deadline "to allow more time for judges, court staff, members of the public and the media to become familiar with" the new rules. The Court has created its own Internet gateway to information about the rules and is scheduling training to help everyone understand the changes. Click here to read our prior post on the import of the rule changes on access to court records.

New Ohio Supreme Court Disciplinary Task Force Underway

A brand new Task Force has been created by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Moyer to review Ohio's disciplinary process for lawyers and judges. This new Task Force met for the first time last week to begin the job of determining whether Ohio's current system is the "most effective and efficient means of investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating allegations of professional misconduct on the part of Ohio’s lawyers and judges." The Supreme Court's Press Release names all of the Task Force members, including current Ohio State Bar Association President Gary Leppla of Dayton.