Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Seven (7) Federal Cases from the N.D. Ohio Can Now Be Viewed Online

As part of a pilot program of the federal Judiciary, seven (7) civil cases from the Northern District of Ohio were videotaped. The proceedings are now available for public viewing online in slices that include case summaries, the entire trials, and individual parts of the proceedings. According to a press release, the courts taped the trials themselves, and the judges and parties had to all agree.

A full list of all the cases that were recorded, including those from Ohio, can be found at the following link, which also provides online access to the videos.

Cleveland Municipal Court's Veterans Treatment Docket Graduates 1st Class

On January 15th, the Cleveland Municipal Court graduated its first class of veterans, who successfully completed the Court's Veterans Treatment Docket program. According to the Court's web site, this program, which was created in 2011, has the following focus:

"In recognition that many veterans return to civilian life with significant physical and mental trauma, which may contribute to their involvement with the criminal justice system, the court takes the responsibility for ensuring that veterans receive the treatment they need. By providing a specialized docket, our focus is to increase the veteran’s chance of success."

The program offers veterans who are facing misdemeanor offenses the chance to avoid jail through diversion to government and community support services, including treatment and mentoring.

At the graduation ceremony, Judge Charles Patton, Jr., who presides over the Docket, stated that:

"It's our duty as fellow countrymen to take care of each other."

Click here for a Plain Dealer article containing more information about the graduation ceremony.

Governor Kasich Has Signed HB 247 Regarding Court Costs and Fees

On December 20th, Ohio Governor Kasich signed HB 247, which is designed to assist courts in the administration of costs and fines that are owed. According to an Ohio Supreme Court news release, what the bill actually does is:

"... allow clerks of court to “write off” uncollectible debt after five years; allow trial courts to suspend the imposition or payment of court costs after the court has imposed a sentence (in response to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling State v. Clevenger); and provide that court costs be assessed on each case as defined by the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio."

With regard to criminal cases under ORC 2947.23, the courts have new powers, as follows:

"(C) The court retains jurisdiction to waive, suspend, or modify the payment of the costs of prosecution, including any costs under section 2947.231 of the Revised Code, at the time of sentencing or at any time thereafter."

Reorganized and Renumbered Ohio Supreme Court Rules of Practice Take Effect Today, 1/2/13

The Ohio's Supreme Court's newly reorganized and renumbered Rules of Practice take effect today, 1/2/13. According to the Court's news release:

"The reorganization presents a more logical ordering of the rules for attorneys and self-represented litigants that is intended to help them locate filing requirements..."

To help attorneys and pro se litigants find where the new rules are located and compare them to the old rules as necessary, the Court has prepared a handy, color-coded conversion chart.

Andrea Rocco Has Been Appointed as the Acting Clerk of Courts of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, eff. 1/2/13

Today, Andrea Rocco takes office as the acting Clerk of Courts of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. She has been appointed by Cuyahoga County Executive Edward FitzGerald to replace retiring Clerk of Courts Gerald E. Fuerst, who has served the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judges and staff for over 30 years. The Law Library wishes Mr. Fuerst a happy retirement.