Cleveland Law Library Weblog

All Federal Courts now Accept Electronic Filing

According to the US Courts News Website, all Federal Courts are now accepting electronic filing. The last court to join this effort is the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Documents can be filed using the "judiciary’s Case Management-Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system". To learn more about the CM/ECF system, click here.

Free 1 Hour LEXIS CLE at the Law Library for Members on Fri., May 4, 2012 in Honor of Law Day

In honor of Law Day this year, our Law Library will be hosting a Free 1 Hour LEXIS CLE program from 12:00-1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 4, 2012. This program is open to all private and statutory members of the Law Library. If you are interested in attending this program, please register by calling the Law Library at 216-861-5070, or emailing the Librarian at kdugan@clelaw.lib.oh.us. We will be offering a light lunch at 11:30 a.m. for those who will be attending.

Cleveland Public Library Plans to Create Personalized Virtual Desktops for Patrons using MyCloud

Ever the trend-setter on the cutting edge of library technology, Cleveland Public Library is planning to give every patron the ability to create a virtual desktop that can be used wherever and whenever a patron visits the library. The technology necessary to make this possible is called MyCloud, and it is coming to CPL in May. CPL describes the benefits this service will provide to its patrons as follows: "it will give patrons the power to create their own computing world, just as if they were using their own laptop or desktop computers. Patrons can access MyCloud through a desktop-like device called a “thin client,” which will be available anywhere in the library for both collaborative and quiet work experiences. Patrons’ MyCloud virtual desktops will also allow them to use powerful software applications, such as Photoshop and business management applications." (See Press Release). This launch is being made in conjunction with CPL's creation of a "Tech Central" downtown with 123 computer workstations. Id.

New State Public Notice Site to Be Launched in Early February

The state will soon have a new web gateway for judges, courts and clerks to post required public notices. When it goes live:

"This site will provide search capabilities for public notices, including public hearings, public meetings, legal and court notices, public sales and auctions, procurements, and many public and legal notices. Here you will be able to search public and legal notices of state and local government entities in the State of Ohio for up to 60 days.

In addition to keyword searching, you will be able to filter your results by county, notice type, and government entity type. You will be able to find those notices that affect you, your family, your community, and your business quickly and easily."

Here Are Some Great Book Predictions for 2012

A website called Digital Book World has posted some great predictions for books and publishing in 2012. Some of their more interesting comments suggest that more authors will self-publish their own works, publishers will undergo major, internal overhauls, authors will obtain more flexible and favorable terms in copyright agreements, and publishing companies will create in-house transmedia groups. DBW is already correct in view of the shake-ups at Westlaw and the rumors that Lexis may be for sale to Bloomberg/BNA. But will these legal publishing giants create partnerships with gaming companies? Hopefully, they will create lasting partnerships with companies such as Overdrive to enable law libraries like ours to circulate e-legal books to our members.

Free App Available to Search Ohio Supreme Court Law Library's Online Library Catalog

According to a new press release from the Ohio Supreme Court, a free app called BookMyne is now available to search the Court Law Library's online catalog of books and holdings. Currently, this app is available for free to users of iPhones and iPads. However, the Supreme Court Law Library's Director has indicated that the app will also be available for the Android in 2012.

PACER Has Launched a Mobile Website for Access to District, Bankruptcy and Appellate Dockets

PACER has launched a mobile web version of its Case Locator that allows registered users to search federal district, bankruptcy and appellate court dockets. This new version of PACER works on Apple devices, such as iPads, and Android devices with version 2.2 and higher. The PACER October 2011 newsletter states that there is nothing to install in order to be able to use the mobile version.

Lunch & Learn on Westlaw Digest System and Lexis Headnote System Rescheduled from Oct. 19th to Oct. 28th

The Cleveland Law Library's Lunch & Learn program on the Westlaw Digest System and the Lexis Headnote System has been rescheduled from 12:00 noon on October 19th to 12:00 noon on Friday, October 28th. Hope you can make the program, which will be held at the Cleveland Law Library, on its new date.

Cleveland Municipal Court e-Filing Looks Pretty Easy to Use

If you have not already heard, the Cleveland Municipal Court's Civil Division now provides another option to file documents: e-Filing. The Court conducted training earlier this month, but there is a great tutorial, complete with multiple screen shots, that explains how to register for the first time, submit pdf documents as e-files, and check the list of documents you have filed. The Court's e-Filing website contains this description of the process of accepting electronic documents:

"All filings made by an electronic record (e-filing) shall have the same effect as a paper filing.  No filing shall be deemed as accepted by the Cleveland Municipal Court until it has been reviewed and approved.  After approval an electronic notice will be sent to the filer and no pleading shall be considered filed until an electronic notice has been sent to the filer.  All registered e-filing accounts will be available for use, after an activation notice has been sent."

Filers can also register to create an escrow account against which filing fees will be taxed or enter credit card information to pay online with each filing.

Only time will tell whether this system will replace print filing entirely, but, at least for now, the Court is continuing to accept hard copies.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown Has Created a Twitter Account

At the urging of her 24-year old daughter, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown has created a Twitter account. Her initial tweet celebrated the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Justice Brown is the first Ohio Supreme Court Justice to open a Twitter account. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Justice Brown "hopes to communicate with younger generations and get her followers to think about what’s going on in the community and at the Supreme Court." Click here to read the entire article from the Columbus Dispatch.