Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Ohio 8th Appellate District Judge Kenneth A. Rocco Profiled by Ohio Supreme Court's CNO

The Ohio Supreme Court just profiled Ohio 8th Appellate District Judge Kenneth A. Rocco in "On the Bench." Before he was an appellate judge, Judge Rocco served as a Judge on the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. He started his distinguished career as an Assistant Law Director in the City of Parma and also served in the Ohio General Assembly. Click here to watch a video with the Judge.

National Center for State Courts Issues New Trends in State Courts (2013 Edition)

The National Center for State Courts has issued a new Trends in State Courts (2103 edition). Some of the articles in this year's issue cover: mandatory pro bono service; child protection; improving courthouse customer service; understanding the impact of human trafficking on state courts; strategic networks and plans; and access to justice issues for the poor. This edition marks the 25th anniversary of this publication. 

Ohio Supreme Court Board Rules That Former Judges Cannot Use Their Judicial Titles After They Leave the Bench

The Ohio Supreme Court's Board of Commissiones on Grievances & Discipline has issued a new Advisory Opinion (2013-3) on the use of judicial titles by former judges. This Syllabus of this Opinion states that 

Former judges may not use judicial titles while practicing law, 
engaging in law-related or other business activities, working in government or 
other public sector positions, or providing charity or community services. 
Former judges serving as retired assigned, acting, and private judges may use 
judicial titles in case-related entries, orders, decisions, and correspondence. 
Former judges are permitted to describe past judicial service and experience in 
communications such as biographical sketches, resumes, and curricula vitae. 
This opinion only applies to the affirmative use of judicial titles by former judges, 
and not the honorific use of judicial titles by others. Judges subject to the Code of 
Judicial Conduct, however, must make reasonable efforts to ensure that former 
judges involved in proceedings as lawyers, parties, or witnesses are not 
addressed by judicial titles in the proceedings.

This new rule does not prevent lawyers and others who, out of respect, still want to use the title when speaking with a former Judge. 

Michigan Judge Holds Himself in Contempt and Orders a $25.00 for Courtroom Smartphone Violation

Cnet reports that a judge in Michigan had to follow his own courtroom policy when his new smartphone went off in court the other day during a prosecutor's closing argument. Michigan Judge Raymond Voet held himself in contempt and fined himself $25.00 for violating the policy about cell phones ringing during court proceedings. Thankfully, this Judge did not consider himself above the law and set a good example by observing his own rules.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice-elect William M. O’Neill Will Be Sworn In At The Eighth District Court of Appeals in Cleveland at 7pm on December 27th

Ohio Supreme Court Justice-elect William M. O'Neill will be sworn in at the Eighth District Court of Appeals at 7pm on December 27, 2012. His ceremony would ordinarily take place in Columbus, but it was changed to Cleveland at his request inasmuch as he is from this area. Presumably, his ceremony will be streamed live over the Internet at sc.ohio.gov.

Governor Kasich Appoints Bratenahl Mayor's Court Magistrate Janet R. Colaluca to Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court

According to an Ohio Supreme Court press release, Governor John Kasich has appointed Bratenahl Mayor's Court Magistrate Janet R. Colaluca to fill a vacancy at the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. Magistrate Colaluca will take the seat created by the recent passing of former DR Judge Kathleen O'Malley. Magistrate Colaluca will take office on January 7th. The Magistrate is a 1991 graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. 

Governor Kasich Has Appointed Judge Judith L. French to the Ohio Supreme Court, eff. Jan. 1, 2013

Governor John Kasich has appointed Judge Judith L. French to the Ohio Supreme Court, effective January 1, 2013. Judge French will fill the vacancy that will be created by the retirement of Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton at the end of the year. Judge French has been serving on the Franklin County Ohio Appeals Court in Columbus since 2004. Before serving on the Court of Appeals, Judge French served as chief legal counsel to Governor Bob Taft, chief counsel and assistant Attorney General in the Office of Attorney General Betty D. Montgomery, and deputy director for Legal Affairs in the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Judge French will hold her new Ohio Supreme Court seat until November 2014, when she will have to run in the general election.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor Delivered State of the Judiciary Address Today, 9/13/12

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor delivered the annual State of Judiciary Address today, 9/13/12. You can already watch her speech, which lasts just over a half hour, on The Ohio Channel. Her address highlights the goals and accomplishments of the Ohio Judicial system over the past year.

 

The United States Court System Proposes New Model Rules on Social Media Use During Trial

In a recent news release, the U.S. Courts' system has announced the creation of a proposed, new, model jury instruction on the use of social media during trials in federal court. A Judicial Conference Committee created the proposed instruction in an attempt to curb jury misuse of social media tools to research cases and communicate about them while the cases are pending. The instruction not only contains guidelines on instructing the jury before, during, and at the end of trial, but it also addresses violations and the consequences jurors can face.

Survey Reports that Judges in Ohio Need a Raise

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has just released a survey which shows that judges in Ohio  need a raise. According to NCSC, Ohio Judges have not had a raise since 2008, and they rank in the "bottom half" of judicial salaries nationwide. According to a Columbus Dispatch article which summarized the survey results:

"Ohio Supreme Court justices are paid $141,600 annually, far below California’s $218,237. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor is paid $150,850, less than the average $157,759 for comparable top court judges in other states and well below California’s $228,856.

Ohio appellate judges receive $132,000, common pleas judges $121,350, full-time municipal judges $114,000, and part-time municipal and county court judges $65,650."

See also The Ohio Supreme Court's Press Release.