Proposed changes to court rules in Ohio are open for public comment until October 24, 2025 . The main initiative is a multipart effort to reorganize the rules by moving those concerning court practices and procedures from the Rules of Superintendence to the appropriate Rules of Practice and Procedure (Civil, Criminal, and Juvenile). This restructuring aims to create a more logical organization for the rules. Also under consideration are other amendments for the Rules of Appellate Procedure to enhance clarity and accommodate electronic filing, and for the Traffic Rules to comply with new legislation. These recommendations were presented by the relevant commissions and approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio for public review. Comments on the proposed Superintendence Rule amendments should be sent to: Keely McWhorter Supreme Court of Ohio 65 S. Front St. Columbus, Ohio 43215 ...
The Supreme Court of Ohio has launched Resources for the Bench , a new online collection of bench cards, guides, and toolkits to help judges, lawyers, and the public navigate Ohio's legal system. These resources cover various topics from remote hearings to domestic violence protections, offering accessible summaries of Ohio statutes and court decisions to enhance understanding and support courtroom decision-making. To learn more about this valuable initiative, check out Court News Ohio for additional details .
Court News Ohio just announced changes to the Ohio Rules of Superintendence regarding records retention for Ohio courts. Effective April 1, 2025, Superintendence Rule 26 outlines how records must be preserved and the minimum duration for retention. These updates apply to courts of appeals; general, domestic-relations, and juvenile divisions of the common pleas courts; probate courts; and county and municipal courts. Key changes include: Restoration of the requirement to notify the Ohio History Connection before destroying records with a retention period over 10 years and created more than 50 years ago Removal of transcripts and depositions from Rule 26.06 regarding destruction of court records Addition to Rule 26.03(D)(6) specifying retention periods based on the type of felony conviction