Non-Attorneys Can Now E-File with Supreme Court

The Ohio Supreme Court continues to amaze me with how technology-driven it is. With the success of a pilot program that we started toward the end of last year, the court in January decided to continue allowing attorneys to e-file case information through our e-Filing Portal. Not only does this save attorneys from having to drive to Columbus to file cases, it also saves quite a few trees along the way.

Now, starting today, the court is allowing self-represented litigants to e-file documents. We justices recently approved the new rules.

Since Jan. 5, 72 percent of all attorney filings have been sent through the e-Filing Portal, and I’m sure non-attorneys will be following suit.

Watch below to learn more about this convenient, cost-efficient way to file and the specific guidelines that non-attorneys should know if they’re filing electronically.

Offering a Second Chance

Big mistakes often have serious consequences, but sometimes it’s possible for a second chance to give hope to those who need it. One court in Ohio is doing just that.

It’s not quite a specialized docket – like the Veterans, Drug, and Mental Health courts – but the Allen County Juvenile Court is helping teens and young adults get their lives back on track through a treatment program.

 

The juvenile court judge and a team of specialists are giving 14- to 21-year-olds a chance to avoid placement in a detention facility. They enter a treatment program that focuses on changing personal attitudes and correcting the behaviors that would put them behind bars.

 

The Allen County program gives the teens a second chance at life, and usually by the time they finish, they will have gone through more than 200 hours of counseling and meetings with treatment specialists. Two Lima teens are featured in the video below. Take a look.