Special Award for Court’s Diversity Program

Remember the Ohio Law and Leadership program we mentioned last summer? The American Bar Association honored the Ohio Law and Leadership Institute for establishing a pipeline program for those intending to complete college and enter the legal profession. Interested youngsters from urban neighborhoods receive a chance to study law during the summer at an Ohio law school.

For the second year I spoke to students enrolled in this program – this time in Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. I hope to do the same this summer. Let me tell you, these students work so hard and their stories are inspiring.

This year’s group will be the first class to attend all four years. I can’t wait to hear where they will attend college.

You can read more about the Law and Leadership program by visiting the website, http://www.lawandleadership.org/.

The Court’s Own Home

Many people don’t realize that it took more than 200 years for the Ohio Supreme Court to find its own home. In the very early days, the Supreme Court Justices, (then called judges) were expected to “ride the circuit” by horseback to hear cases in every county in the state. When there were no local courthouses, sometimes cases were heard in county residences. The Court did not even sit in one place until 1857 when it moved “temporarily” to the Ohio Statehouse. And there it stayed for 117 years.

The Ohio Statehouse celebrates its 150th year in 2011. It now houses offices for the executive and legislative branches of government and is the meeting place for the General Assembly. But for over a century, even before construction was completed, the Supreme Court was also there.

First, cases were heard in the southwest corner of the Statehouse (now the office for the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives). As government grew, between 1899 and 1901 a Judiciary Annex was built and included the Attorney General’s Office as well as the Court and other offices that had outgrown their spaces. The Supreme Court met in split sessions of three justices in the two Annex courtrooms. Those rooms are now the North Hearing Room and South Hearing Room in the Senate Building.

The next move led the Court to the Rhodes State Office Tower in 1974 where it stayed side-by-side members of the executive branch for 30 years. Not until February of 2004 did the Court finally move to the Ohio Judicial Center. This was the first time in the state’s history that the Supreme Court had a building devoted solely to the judicial branch. The first time it had its own home.

You can read more about our award-winning Judicial Center by visiting the website, http://www.ohiojudicialcenter.gov/.

A New Beginning

I wish you all the best in 2011 as the Supreme Court of Ohio starts a new year!

Every two years when January rolls around, at least two Justices participate in the administration of the oath of office. In fact, every judge and every other Ohio officeholder takes an oath to uphold the Constitution before starting a new term.

Today, I was sworn-in for a second time as a Justice at a public ceremony along with my colleague, Justice Paul Pfeifer. We were both fortunate to be re-elected by Ohio voters in November. Earlier this month, Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and Justice Yvette McGee Brown, the Court’s newest member, also participated in public inaugurations.

Here’s what our oath says:

“I, (name), do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Ohio, will administer justice without respect to persons, and will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all of the duties incumbent upon me as (name of office) according to the best of my ability and understanding. [This I do as I shall answer unto God.]”

By law this oath is taken before our term begins, and it must be administered by a fellow member of the Court. That’s why Justices typically hold a small, informal private ceremony and then hold a public ceremony later.

You can watch the ceremonies on the Court’s website and see that we are now energized for 2011. I am also eager to continue to discuss important topics about the judiciary with you through this blog and look forward to your participation.

Middle school video contest takes on inappropriate texts, cyber bullying

Stories about the consequences of sexting and cyber bullying by teenagers and pre-teens appear in the media every day. To raise awareness about the issue, the 2009 Fellows Class of the Ohio State Bar Foundation created a statewide video contest called B4U Send.

The contest challenges Ohio teachers to team with students in grades six, seven and eight to create a short public-service video that addresses the emotional, legal and social consequences of these behaviors. Details and information – including a 46-page Ohio teachers’ benchmark guide – can be found here: http://www.osbf.net/what-we-do/b4usend.

The winning entry will be produced professionally and distributed to all Ohio middle schools during Law Week as a public service announcement. Good luck!

U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Ohio case

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition to hear an Ohio case about police searching data stored in a cell phone. While the Supreme Court of Ohio is the court of last resort for state law, sometimes our court’s decisions are appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, especially when they concern federal constitutional rights.

It’s not uncommon for the U.S. Supreme Court to decline to hear a case. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court receives about 10,000 petitions for a writ of certiorari each year. The Court grants and hears oral argument in about 75 to 80 cases. Those are difficult numbers to overcome to be sure.

As a comparison, our state Supreme Court receives about 2,000 requests each year to review decisions of Ohio’s appeals courts. Out of all those requests, we typically agree to hear arguments and decide about 150 cases per year. After reading these statistics, you can see why we encourage lawyers to make a compelling case to us as to why we should hear their case.

Harvard recognizes Supreme Court civic education program

We already knew our civic education program was a worthwhile endeavor, now Harvard University thinks so too. The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government selected 173 programs nationwide for its inaugural Bright Ideas program as “creative government initiatives.”


Here’s what the winning application says: “The Supreme Court of Ohio Civic Education Program is dedicated to informing citizens about the judiciary, an often misunderstood branch of government, with the aim of building trust through knowledge and understanding. The initiative employs many and varied approaches including off-site court, a visitor education center, public lectures, and artwork.”

Please don’t let another school year go by without visiting our beautiful building and learning how the judicial system affects your life. You won’t regret it.

Constitution Day Theme Centers on Jury Service

With many Ohio schools back in session, civics teachers may be interested in an off-the-shelf resource offered by the United States Courts Web site.

In celebration of Constitution Day on Sept. 17, this year’s theme centers on jury service, an obligation and privilege of American citizens. According to the Web site, schools that receive public funds are required by federal law to provide education about the Constitution on that day.

The lesson plan offers jury service resources, a podcast from students and background information about serving on a jury. Click here to access the site. Have fun learning about what it means to serve on a jury and celebrating the 223rd anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.