Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Please Welcome New Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Antonino S. Nicholson

 Hon. Antonio S. Nicholson is a Solon native with the ambition and drive to fill a vacant seat in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Gov. Mike DeWine proudly appointed Judge Nicholson to the bench. Judge Nicholson will assume office on July 14, 2025. He will finish the term of Judge Deena Calabrese, who was elected to the Eighth District Court of Appeals. In order to maintain his seat, he will have to run for election in November 2025. He is currently preparing for his campaign while also gearing up for his responsibilities on the bench. Judge Antonio S. Nicholson began his law career in a private practice in 2014. Now he currently operates his own law practice. With over 10 years of direct trial experience ranging from misdemeanors to high-profile felony cases, Judge Nicholson has built a well-rounded legal career. His extensive background as a public defender and his hands-on involvement with the judicial system show that Judge Nicholson is noted for his commitment to addressing bias within the Judicial system and his advocacy for rehabilitative justice. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the context of criminal behavior and is a proponent of community involvement and programs aiming to prevent recidivism. He aims to provide fairness and transparency in the judicial process. 

New NCLC Survey Shows Americans Have Confidence in State Courts

According to a press release published by the National Center for State Courts, a recent survey confirms that almost two-thirds of Americans express confidence in state courts. According to the summary of the report, 63% believe that state courts are “committed to protecting individual and civil rights” and 59% believe state courts “treat people with dignity and respect.” Interestingly, 64% would like states to “license non-lawyers . . . to be able to provide limited legal services.” Read the full summary here.

Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court Introduces E-Filing Today, 4/17/17

Effective today, April 17, 2017, E-Filing is now available in the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. As part of the launch of this new service, the Court issued E-Filing Administrative Order 1.0 containing the general rules for E-filing.

The Court's Press Release explains that:

"Attorneys may now electronically file all new domestic relations cases, except domestic violence, beginning April 17, 2017. Other filings in existing cases such as affidavits, briefs, motions, will also be accepted. Self-represented parties may participate in the e-filing program but will not be required to do so. “This is a major step forward in the Court’s efforts to provide access to justice and make our system more convenient. By investing in technology, we expect increased efficiencies and tremendous cost-savings to taxpayers,” said Administrative Judge Rosemary Grdina Gold. “The time saved from improved processes will allow us to focus on better serving the needs of our customers.” The e-filing system will allow court documents that are filed electronically to be integrated into the Court’s electronic case management system. ... There are no additional costs to e-file – users will pay the same filing fees charged for filing paper documents."

The Press Release also identifies the advantages of the new E-filing system.

An E-Filing Account Application, an E-Filing User Guide, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found in the E-Filing portion the Clerk of Courts’ website: http://coc.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/efiling.aspx.

An E-Filing Training Video will be coming soon on the Clerk of Court's web site.

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. 

Former Cuyahoga County CP Judge Richard M. Markus Receives Award for Judicial Excellence

The Ohio Supreme Court reports that the Ohio Judicial College has just honored former and retired Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Richard M. Markus with the Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence. Judge Markus was praised for being "a nationally prominent litigator and accomplished judge" who "is known for his extraordinary leadership skills and interest in the lives of others." "Judge Markus served on the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and the Eighth District Court of Appeals, six chief justices assigned him as a visiting judge for 40 counties and five appellate courts. In addition to his service as a litigator and judge, Judge Markus is a prolific author with a number of books, including “Trial Handbook for Ohio Lawyers [now called Ohio Trial Practice],”and numerous articles to his credit. Also an educator, he was a law professor at Akron, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland State, and Harvard universities, and presented many hundreds of seminar lectures to lawyers and judges in 42 states and four foreign countries. He has served on faculties for M.I.T., the National Judicial College, the Institute for Judicial Administration (New York University), and the Ohio Continuing Legal Education Institute, and is a co-founder of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy."

Click here to read a Press Release from the Ohio Supreme Court.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Has Dedicated Its Brand New Veterans Treatment Docket

On Friday, May 29, 2015, the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court dedicated its brand new Veterans Treatment Docket. Several dignitaries spoke at the dedication ceremony, including Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, who provided the keynote address.  Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael E. Jackson will preside over new docket. According to cleveland.com, the focus of the new docket is "to rehabilitate vets who have been charged with a felony and sentenced to probation, by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system to a special program of treatment and support."

New "Archives Division" Office Open in Cuyahoga County Courthouse Basement for Searching Court Files

A new public records room (Room No. 37) is now open in the basement of the Cuyahoga County Courthouse for searching court files. According to a press release from the Clerk of Courts, the remodeled space "includes public terminals to search the online docket and a copy machine and scanner for customer use. The renovated space will allow for greater usability by the public, improved customer service, and includes ADA accessible public terminals and work space." The docket includes civil, criminal, appellate and foreclosure cases.

This new space was part of a reorganization in which more than 11,000 boxes of archived files were removed from the Courthouse hallways for later conversion to digital files or microfilm. Other changes to the Courthouse include: a new Domestic Relations Division Office in Room No. 35; a new Notary Division in Room No. 34; removal of the civil Microfilm office to the 1st floor of the Justice Center.

Even more moves are planned because the Certified Copy and Microfilm Departments in the Criminal Division are going to be moving to newly renovated space on the first floor of the Justice Center very soon.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court is Adding a Veterans Court

Last week, the Judges of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court voted to create a Veterans Court. According to Courtnewsohio.gov, the new Court will open next year, in January 2015. Some of the issues to which the court will be devoted will be "unemployment, post-traumatic stress syndrome, traumatic brain injuries, homelessness, drugs, and crime. ...Another goal of the Veterans Court is to forge partnerships among the Veterans Administration, public agencies, and community-based organizations, to generate local support." The Judges will possess discretion to transfer cases to the Veterans Court, "where the defendant will take part in the program for a minimum of 12 months. All felony-level cases that are eligible for probation (Community Control Sanctions/CCS) may be transferred to the Veterans Court, but priority will be given to high-risk, high-need veteran defendants."

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Getting a Second Drug Court in 2015

Court News Ohio reports that Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court is adding a second drug court next year, in 2015, to help provide more defendants with treatment options, instead of prison sentences. 

"Judge Joan Synenberg will oversee the new docket beginning in January, joining Judge David Matia whose drug court has had nearly 250 participants since May 2009. The court’s main goal is to expand the program to include those with substance-use disorder and trauma-related mental health issues.... The addition of a second felony docket will expand availability of treatment for the burgeoning number of defendants with opiate-related diagnoses who require a more intensive treatment. The target is to have 60 participants each year, or 180 for the three-year grant period."

Cuyahoga Clerk of Court to Host Free e-filing CLE Programs in September 2014

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Court is hosting free e-filing CLE programs later this year in September, 2014. The program description provides that:

"This program will assist attorneys in navigating the Clerk’s new e-filing system and will present step-by-step instructions by video, followed by a live demonstration, on how to electronically file cases and documents in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, and the Eighth District Court of Appeals."

Click here for more information and registration instructions.