A recent Equal Justice Works survey reveals that 79% of Americans view the justice system as unfair, with many believing that outcomes are heavily biased toward specific races and higher income levels. Additionally, the report highlights a dangerous "confidence gap" and widespread public confusion, such as the mistaken belief that court-appointed attorneys are provided for civil cases like discrimination. Read more about this survey at the ABA Journal or access the complete  report .

Cleveland has earned a spot on CDP’s 2025 "A List" , a distinction reserved for places demonstrating top-tier environmental governance and transparent disclosure of climate data. To achieve this leadership status, the city met rigorous criteria including the publication of a comprehensive emissions inventory, a credible climate action plan, and a full risk and vulnerability assessment. Through the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability , Cleveland continues to leverage this data-driven approach to co-create policies that reduce carbon emissions and build long-term resilience for all residents. Learn more about this achievement at Cleveland’s official news site .

Recent web traffic data shows Microsoft Copilot is falling behind in the AI race, holding just 1.1% of the market compared to ChatGPT’s 64.5% and Gemini’s 21.5%. While competitors like Grok and Claude are growing, Copilot's share has actually decreased over the past year. These figures only track web usage, so it remains unclear if the tool is performing better through its direct integration into Windows 11. Read more about the trends in AI on PCWorld .

The 2025 State of the State Courts survey reveals that state courts remain the most trusted branch of government, with public confidence holding steady at 62%. While young adults show the highest levels of optimism regarding judicial fairness and innovation, a majority of respondents express concern that AI may be more harmful than helpful due to the risk of errors. To improve the system, the public strongly supports reforms in legal education and bar exams to prioritize real-world skills and practical experience. Read more about the survey results and  at Court News Ohio .

The Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court recently joined the White Ribbon Campaign, a global movement focused on engaging men and boys to end domestic violence and gender-based harm. Led by Administrative Judge Diane M. Palos, the court emphasized that breaking the cycle of abuse requires a collective community commitment to leadership, survivor support, and proactive education. Read more about this campaign at Court News Ohio .

The Supreme Court of Ohio  ruled that petitioners for a civil stalking protection order are not required to prove they have already experienced mental distress . In a 5-2 decision , the Court held that  R.C. 2903.211  is satisfied  if a petitioner reasonably believes an offender will cause mental distress if encounters continue . The majority opinion  resolved conflicting lower court interpretations by applying a grammatical analysis to the state's "menacing-by-stalking" statute .  This decision affirmed a Fifth District Court of Appeals ruling ,  which granted a protection order to a man following hostile confrontations with his ex-wife’s partner.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) criticized the American Bar Association's (ABA) law school accreditation as a "monopoly" that inflates the cost of a law degree and restricts the supply of new lawyers. The FTC endorsed a plan by the Texas Supreme Court to end the state's reliance on the ABA for oversight, viewing it as a vital step against the ABA's costly and restrictive requirements. The agency noted that other states like Florida and Ohio are also reviewing their requirements, while the ABA is already undertaking a sweeping review of its own accreditation standards.

The Ohio House passed House Bill 105 , which reforms third-party litigation funding- a practice where outside companies finance lawsuits for a share of the recovery. The bill creates a regulatory system under the Attorney General, requiring fee disclosure and banning foreign governments or investors from participating. Read more about the legislation at The Ohio House of Representatives .

  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed Senate Bill 114 into law, a bipartisan effort led by Senator Thomas Patton, to outlaw police ticketing and arrest quotas. This legislation makes it illegal for law enforcement agencies to use quotas for evaluating officers or offering rewards, directly addressing concerns about "unnecessary tickets" driven by revenue generation. The bill also establishes an anonymous system for officers to report non-compliance by their departments.

  The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland marked its 120th Founders Day on June 12 , recognizing individuals who consistently support its mission of providing access to justice. The organization has significantly expanded since 2005, growing from 55 to 145 staff members, including 75 lawyers. This expansion has fueled a 44% increase in clients and cases served, with Legal Aid handling 9,700 cases annually. This enhanced capacity directly helps more people stay in their homes, manage their finances, and ensure personal and family safety. Check out the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s website for additional information on services, volunteer sign-ups, and giving opportunities.

  An Ohio Supreme Court task force has reviewed local courts' diversion of juveniles. It recommends that courts formalize their practices when redirecting juveniles to intervention services before an initial court appearance. Diversion is an informal alternative that redirects youths away from involvement in the juvenile justice system to address the root causes of delinquent behavior. These causes may include food and housing insecurity, joblessness in the home, inadequate educational resources, and unmet mental health needs. By examining these root causes, juveniles are still held accountable for their behavior without the court system imposing any formal legal sanction or confinement. Research shows that youth who are formally involved with the juvenile justice system and those who spend time in detention are far more likely to engage in criminal activities as adults. To create written guidelines for the diversion process, a survey of juvenile court judges conducted for the task...

  The 22nd edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation now includes rules for citing Tribal law. This addition, spearheaded by a group of law librarians , helps standardize how legal professionals cite Tribal Nations and their legal materials, including treaties. This change is a significant step toward recognizing Tribal Nations as sovereign entities and promoting the study and use of Tribal law in legal education and practice.

A Kaplan survey of over 300 pre-law students shows that the current political climate and the 2024 presidential election are major factors behind a 20% increase in law school applications, echoing trends seen after the 2016 election. Many students seek politically aligned academic environments, with 52% valuing shared beliefs among peers and 64% supporting schools making public statements on societal issues. Additionally, 31% of respondents are considering future political careers, reflecting a broader interest in shaping policy and driving systemic change through legal education. You can read more about the study here .

  Cleveland City Council has passed a new law requiring businesses with over 15 employees to list pay ranges in job postings and banning questions about applicants' salary history. The legislation is designed to address race and gender pay disparities and aims to boost transparency and fairness, especially for women, minorities, and low-income workers. Violators may face fines, but the city will prioritize helping businesses comply. This initiative aligns with broader efforts by Mayor Bibb and the council to strengthen worker protections. Click here to read more about this new legislation.

The General Services Administration (GSA) plans to relocate over 4,000 federal employees from Cleveland’s Anthony J. Celebrezze (AJC) Federal Building within three years. The building, which currently houses 30 federal agencies, faces a $175 million repair backlog, prompting the GSA to seek a more cost-effective solution. The 1.2-million-square-foot structure will be vacated, closed, and likely offered for sale to local governments. While the GSA has pledged to maintain federal services in downtown Cleveland, it has already begun securing new leases for the displaced agencies. Local officials, including Congresswoman Shontel Brown and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, have voiced concerns about the move’s potential impact on the federal workforce and the downtown economy.

  The American Bar Association, along with 58 other bar associations—including the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association—have united to “defend the rule of law and reject efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.” They issued a statement rejecting government actions that punish lawyers, law firms, or judges for their legal decisions, and emphasized the importance of protecting the independence of the legal system. The coalition calls upon all members of the profession, from private practice to elected officials, to speak out against such intimidations.

  The Cleveland Municipal Court will reopen on March 12, following a cyber incident that led to its closure on February 23. Although the investigation is still ongoing, General Division cases scheduled for Wednesday will proceed as planned. All criminal and civil cases originally set for hearings between February 24 and March 11 have been rescheduled, and affected individuals will receive new dates by mail.

  After months of community engagement and public voting, the Cleveland Flag Project has unveiled the “ People’s Flag of Cleveland .” The new design is packed with meaning, subtly nodding to Cleveland's history and future aspirations. Although city leaders are not adopting it as Cleveland’s official flag, organizers hope it will be embraced by residents, with flags debuting across the city and merchandise available to support the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

The Cleveland Municipal Court , including the Cleveland Housing Court, was closed on Monday, February 24, following an unspecified cyber incident that occurred on Sunday evening. Deputy Court Administrator Mike Negray confirmed that all affected systems were shut down as a precaution. The cause of the incident remains unclear, and an investigation is ongoing.

  The Library Innovation Lab at Harvard Law School has launched a new archive of data.gov. This 16TB repository contains over 311,000 datasets from 2024 and 2025 and is updated daily. The initiative aims to preserve public datasets for research, policymaking, and public use. In addition, the project has released open-source software to help others replicate the archive and build similar repositories.