Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Cleveland Law Library Celebrates Virtual Law Day

Today, is the American Bar Association’s Annual Law Day, and this year’s theme is “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100.” It is a day to celebrate the right of all people to vote, but especially women, who were unable to vote until the 19^th Amendment was passed 100 years ago. This year’s theme was put to a considerable test in Ohio in early Spring when the Coronavirus pandemic jeopardized the rights of people who had planned to vote in person in the primary election on March 17^th before or after celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. It also tested the separation of powers doctrine when a Franklin County, Ohio Judge denied an order to delay the election, the Ohio Department of Health closed the polls due to public safety concerns, and the Ohio Supreme Court denied a candidate’s challenge to keep the polls open. Thankfully, Ohio decisions to keep poll workers and voters safe also preserved voting rights and Democracy through extended absentee voting.

Cleveland Law Library Hosting Book Discussion of My Own Words by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Friday, 3/31/17

Our Law Library, the Cleveland Law Library, is hosting a Book Discussion of My Own Words by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this Friday, 3/31/17. This program is a joint collaboration with the Cleveland Public Library, and the Honorable Cassandra Collier Williams of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court will serve as the program's Special Guest.. The Book Discussion will be held in the Law Library's Conference Room from 12:30-2:00 p.m. on the 4th floor of the Cuyahoga County Courthouse, 1 West Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113. Click here for the flyer for the program with additional details. 

Ohio "We The People" Competition Gives 150 Students Experience with Simulated Congressional Hearings

On January 24th, 150 students from six high schools participated in simulated Congressional hearings at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio.  The competition was part of the “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” state competition, sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, which also runs Ohio's annual Mock Trial competition every February. As the state-wide winner, Findlay High School will move on to the national competititon in Washington, D.C. in April.

Ohio Supreme Court Dismisses Two Cases Challenging the Constitutionality of Red-Light Cameras

Yesterday, on May 4, 2011, the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed two (2) cases from Cleveland and Columbus that challenged the constitutionality of red-light cameras. The Court simply dismissed the cases so there is no substantive opinion upon which either side can really hang its hat. Click here to read the Court's opinion in the Cleveland case, which sought writs of mandamus and prohibition and wherein the court denied class certification and a request for oral argument in 2 short paragraphs. Click here to read an article from the Columbus Dispatch about the decisions. Click here to read our prior post on the case when it was originally filed in Cleveland just 3 months ago.

Obama Health Care Law is Destined for the U.S. Supreme Court

In a rather long 78 page opinion, federal district Judge Roger Vinson has ruled that the Obama Health Care plan is unconstitutional. Ohio just recently joined the suit, which the court decided today. Although another judge in Virginia only struck down the part of the law related to mandatory insurance, Judge Vinson's decision is more comprehensive. In all likelihood, the issue will go up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Click here to read the Judge's opinion, and click here to read our prior post on the lawsuit, with a link to many more documents in the case, as well as the laws that precipitated the lawsuit. A good summary of the case has been provided by cleveland.com.

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's 3Rs Program Underway in Cleveland and East Cleveland High Schools

The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's 3Rs program on Rights, Responsibilities, and Realities started today in 10th grade classrooms in Cleveland and East Cleveland high schools. I went to Max Hayes today, and the kids were really pumped up about our visit. Today, we laid the groundwork for our lessons on the Constitution and discussed career plans that the students may already have formulated. This is my 4th or 5th year in the program, and stats show we are making a difference in passage rates on the social studies portion of the Ohio Graduation Test. Go CMBA!

Ohio AG Will Now Defend Appellate Judges and Courts in Non-Monetary Civil Suits

As part of HB 10, the Ohio Attorney General's office will now be representing appellate judges and courts in non-monetary civil suits. A letter the AG's office sent to the courts provides that: "any cases seeking only equitable relief (e.g., writs of mandamus or procedendo) and filed against Appellate Court Judges will be handled by the Constitutional Offices Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.” According to the Supreme Court's press release, the AG's office will also provide representation to appeals court employees whether monetary relief is requested or not.

Cuyahoga County Starts Study of Racial Bias in Justice System

This month, Cleveland State University will conduct a study for Cuyahoga County, Ohio on racial bias in the justice system. The study will cost about $60,000 and pick up where a prior Univ. of Cincinnati study left off. According to First Asst. Prosecutor Michael O'Malley, CSU team members will be riding with police to "traffic-ticketing and other behavior for signs of racial bias."

The U.S. Constitution is Now an iPhone/iPod Touch App

The Legal Current reports that the U.S. Constitution is now available as an iPhone/iPod Touch application created by West Publishing Company.  An article from the St. Paul Pioneer Press indicates that West has been publishing a pocket Constitution since Chief Justice Burger asked West to do it in the 1980's.  Click here to watch a YouTube video about the new app. from West's Director of New Product Development.

Officer Who Personally Observes Traffic Violation Has Probable Cause for Stop Outside His Jurisdiction

In State v. Jones, Slip Opinion No. 2009-Ohio-316, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that a police officer's extra-territorial stop for a traffic infraction does not violate the Fourth Amendment, thereby invoking the exclusionary rule.  The court relied upon its opinion in State v. Weideman (2002), 94 Ohio St.3d 501 and the recent United States Supreme Court case, Virginia v. Moore (2008), ____ U.S. _____, 128 S.Ct. 1598, 170 L.Ed.2d 559, to support its holding.  The Cout held that an extra-territorial stop by a law-enforcement officer is not per se unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment when the officer personally observes the traffic violation upon which the stop is made.  Although the stop may be unlawful under R.C. 2935.03, the court held that this does not rise to a constitutional violation, thereby resulting in a suppression of evidence. The Supreme Court of Ohio pointed out that the Ohio Legislature did not provide a remedy for a violation of R.C. 2935.03 and stated it is not the court's place to rectify a possible legislative oversight by applying the exclusionary rule for a violation.