Cleveland Law Library Weblog

New Superintendence Rules for Ohio

Per the Court's Press Release, the Ohio Supreme Court amended Rules 19 and 19.1 of the Ohio Rules of Superintendence, effective March 1, 2008. For the 1st time, Rule 19 provides a minimum rule for magistrates' years in practice. Specifically, Rule 19 requires that magistrates be engaged in the practice of law for at least 4 years and be in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court at the time of their appointment. Rule 19.1 makes it mandatory for all municipal courts with more than two judges to appoint one or more magistrates to hear specific proceedings. Click here to read the text of the Rule amendments.

Fastcase Launches Beta Version of Public Library of Law

Fastcase has launched a beta or trial version of The Public Library of Law.  The PLoL claims to be the biggest free law library in the world with access to cases from the United States Supreme Court and the federal Courts of Appeals, cases from all 50 states back to 1997, federal and state codes, regulations, constitutions, and court rules. The site also provides access to fee-based forms and form packages from U.S. Legal Forms that cover an uncontested divorce, incorporating a business, creating a landlord-tenant lease, filing for bankruptcy and more. Most of the forms can be downloaded in Word, and there is a good sampling of forms from Ohio that are available for purchase.