Cleveland Law Library Weblog

ABA Declares October 16-22 as Mediation Week

In addition to Pro Bono Week (Oct. 23-29, 2011) that the ABA started a few years ago, the ABA has now dedicated another week in October, from October 16-22, as Mediation Week. This year's theme is "Civility and Civil Public Discourse," and the ABA has stated that:

"Lawyers and mediators play a special role in promoting civility and civil public discourse.    In their use of mediation and in other endeavors, lawyers can encourage  and model the use of civility, non-disparagement, dialogue, problem solving, and other collaborative  practices by other lawyers, public officials,  community leaders  and members of the general public."

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 Ordinances Have Been Updated through October 4, 2011

The Cleveland Municipal Ordinances were just updated through October 4, 2011. A link to the ordinances can be found on the Cleveland City Council page, but they are provided on the web by American Legal Publising Corporation. Current changes to the City ordinances can always be found in the City Record.

Akron Opens New Domestic-Violence Felony Court-First in Ohio

Akron is the site of Ohio's very first Domestic-Violence Felony Court. According to the Columbus Dispatch:

"The court in Akron, funded mostly by grants, will handle cases of repeat violent felonies between spouses, former spouses and other couples throughout Summit County. Among charges the court might handle are aggravated arson, rape, aggravated assault, felony menacing by stalking and kidnapping."

Apparently, the court already has 15 cases since it started on October 3rd, with a goal of adjudicating 350 cases per year. The article also indicates that "A goal [of the new court] is to keep offenders out of prison by using intensive probation that would ultimately land an offender behind bars if it’s violated."

Click here to read another article about the court from newsnet5.com.

U.S. District Court for the N.D. Ohio Revises Civil Cover Sheet to Create 7 New Categories and Eliminate 13 Others

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has revised its Civil Cover Sheet to include 7 new categories:

• 367 TORTS - Personal Injury - Health Care/Pharmaceutical Personal Injury/Product Liability
• 375 False Claims Act
• 448 Civil Rights - Education
• 560 Prisoner Petitions - Civil Detainee - Conditions of Confinement
• 751 Labor - Family and Medical Leave Act
• 896 Other Statutes - Arbitration
• 899 Other Statutes - Administrative Procedure Act/Review or Appeal of Agency Decision

The Court has also eliminated the following 13 Nature of Suit codes:

• 444 Civil Rights - Welfare
• 610 Forfeiture/Penalty - Agriculture
• 620 Forfeiture/Penalty - Other Food & Drug
• 630 Forfeiture/Penalty - Liquor Laws
• 640 Forfeiture/Penalty - RR & Truck
• 650 Forfeiture/Penalty - Airline Regulations
• 660 Forfeiture/Penalty - Occupational Safety/Health
• 730 Labor - Labor/Mgmt Reporting and Disclosure Act
• 810 Other Statutes - Selective Service
• 875 Other Statutes - Customer Challenge 12 USC 3410
• 892 Economic Stabilization Act
• 894 Other Statutes - Energy Allocation Act
• 900 Other Statutes - Appeal of Fee Determination Under Equal Access to Justice Act

 Click here to download the new Civil Cover Sheet, which comes with instructions for completing it.

 

109 Ohio Municipal Judge Seats Up in November

Of the 109 municipal judge seats up for election in November, 39 are contested, including 5 in Cuyahoga County. The Ohio Supreme Court reminds us that municipal court judges are elected for 6 years in odd-numbered years, while all other Ohio judges are elected in even-numbered years. The Ohio Supreme Court's press release contains a link to a list of all 109 seats and the associated candidates. Each County Board of Elections would also maintain this information.

U.S. Supreme Court Opens New Term Today

The United States Supreme Court opens its 2011-2012 term today. Several of the major issues the Court will be addressing are the Obama administration's health care law, immigration, and affirmative action. A Chicago Tribune article from today summarizes all of the major cases on the Court's docket.

Cleveland Municipal Court Creates Veterans Treatment Docket

Joining Mansfield and Youngstown (see our prior post), the Cleveland Municipal Court has created its own Veterans Treatment Docket. According to the Ohio Supreme Court's press release, this new docket is "designed to address the special needs of veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and National Guard, who become involved with the criminal justice system in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County...The Veterans Treatment Docket brings together all parties that assist honorably discharged veterans with their substance abuse, mental health, housing, employment, education and health issues." The Court plans to partner with the Veterans Service Commission and the Veterans Administration to get vets the help they need.

PACER Fees Increasing to $.10 per Page on April 1, 2012

According to a news release from the United States Courts, PACER fees are increasing  from $.08 to $.10 per page effective April 1, 2012. The increase is apparently needed to maintain and enhance the public access system, as well as "develop and implement the next generation of the judiciary’s Case Management/Electronic Case Filing system." PACER fees have been 8 cents since 2005, and the electronic system which provides public access is totally self-funded.