Cleveland Law Library Weblog

The People’s Flag of Cleveland

After months of community engagement and public voting, the Cleveland Flag Project have unveiled the “People’s Flag of Cleveland.” The new design is packed with meaning, subtly nodding to Cleveland's history and future aspirations. Although city leaders are not adopting it as Cleveland’s official flag, organizers hope it will be embraced by residents, with flags debuting across the city and merchandise available to support the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

 

Legal Aid Cleveland: 120 Years of Justice

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland marked its 120th Founders Day on June 12, recognizing individuals who consistently support its mission of providing access to justice. The organization has significantly expanded since 2005, growing from 55 to 145 staff members, including 75 lawyers. This expansion has fueled a 44% increase in clients and cases served, with Legal Aid handling 9,700 cases annually. This enhanced capacity directly helps more people stay in their homes, manage their finances, and ensure personal and family safety. Check out the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland's website for additional information on services, volunteer sign-ups, and giving opportunities.

 

Cleveland Proposes New Rules for Short-Term Rentals

The city of Cleveland is introducing new laws to regulate short-term rentals such as AirBnb and VRBO, in response to rising complaints from residents about noise, parties, and parking issues. The proposed legislation includes a licensing process with an application fee and annual renewal, a 15% density cap, and a requirement for a local contact during occupancy. If approved, the city would be able to fine unlicensed operators up to $5,000. Read more about the proposed legislation here.

Cleveland City Council Takes Action on Pay Equity with New Legislation

Cleveland City Council passed a new law requiring businesses with over 15 employees to list pay ranges in job postings and banning questions about applicants' salary history to address race and gender pay disparities. The legislation aims to boost transparency and fairness, especially for women, minorities, and low-income worker. Violators may face fines, but the city will prioritize helping businesses comply, aligning with broader efforts by Mayor Bibb and the council to strengthen worker protections. Click here to read more about this new legislation.

National Study Examines Tenants' Rights to Counsel in Evictions

A new study entitled "A Descriptive Analysis of Tenant Right to Counsel Law and Praxis 2017–2024" that was released on Friday by multiple universities outlines tenants' rights to counsel in eviction actions. According to a Law360 article about the study, there are "only five states, 17 cities and one county" that guarantee legal representation to tenants facing eviction. Notably, Cleveland is listed as one of only a few large cities that have created Right to Counsel (RTC) programs. The article details both successes and challenges the programs face nationwide. Among other issues, the article noted that ""Even where funding was available, multiple large jurisdictions struggled to identify a pool of attorneys to staff the program," and local attorneys to be "underpaid and overburdened."

GSA to Close Celebrezze Federal Building, Relocate Employees

The General Services Administration (GSA) plans to relocate over 4,000 federal employees from Cleveland’s Anthony J. Celebrezze (AJC) Federal Building within three years. The building, currently housing 30 federal agencies, has a $175 million repair backlog, prompting the GSA to seek a more cost-effective solution. The 1.2-million-square-foot building will be vacated, closed, and likely offered for sale to local governments. While the GSA is committed to maintaining federal services in downtown Cleveland, they have already pursued new leases for the displaced agencies. Local officials, including Congresswoman Shontel Brown and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, have expressed concerns about the move’s impact on the federal workforce and the downtown economy.

ABA and Other Bar Associations Issue Statement

The American Bar Association, along with 58 other bar associations, including the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, have united to “defend the rule of law and reject efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.” They issued a statement rejecting government actions that punish lawyers, law firms, or judges for their legal decisions, and emphasized the importance of protecting the independence of the legal system. They call upon all members of the profession, from private practice to elected officials, to speak out against such intimidations.

The Cleveland Municipal Court Will Reopen Today

The Cleveland Municipal Court will reopen on March 12, after a cyber incident led to its closure on February 23. Although an investigation is ongoing, General Division cases scheduled for Wednesday will be heard as planned. All criminal and civil cases set for hearings between February 24 and March 11 have been rescheduled, and affected individuals will receive new dates by mail.

"Cyber Incident" at Cleveland Municipal Court, Closed Monday (2/24)

The Cleveland Municipal Court, including the Cleveland Housing Court, is closed on Monday, February 24. The court is investigating an unspecified "cyber incident" that happened on Sunday evening. Deputy Court Administrator Mike Negray said they shut down all affected systems. It is unclear what caused the incident.

CPL Staff Memo on Immigration Enforcement

The Cleveland Public Library sent a memo to staff advising them not to intervene if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to library branches to arrest patrons. Executive director and CEO, Felton Thomas, emphasized that interfering with arrests could lead to legal consequences, such as obstruction of justice. Thomas reassured staff that it’s unlikely ICE would target CPL employees but reminded them that ICE agents can legally enter public library spaces. Additionally, the library must protect patron privacy under Ohio law, and staff should direct ICE inquiries about personal information to the library’s legal counsel.

Cleveland Police Drone Policy

Cleveland Police have received approval to use drones under a new policy passed by the Cleveland Community Police Commission in November 2024. The policy allows the use of drones for law enforcement purposes but bans their deployment for crowd control or protest surveillance. Deployments need to be approved by the police chief, and flight paths must be posted online within 48 hours. Videos will be deleted after 30 days, if they are not needed for an investigation.

The Cleveland Police Chief and some city council members are taking issue with the approved drone policy/restrictions.