Ohio Public Domain Cite By Sue Altmeyer For Prof. Mika’s Legal Writing Class March 24 & 25, 2009

Cleveland Marshall’s Ohio Legal Research Guide urces/lawpubs/ohio/Courts.html#findcasehttp:// urces/lawpubs/ohio/Courts.html#findcase See sections re. Ohio Official Reports, Reported v. Unreported Cases, Web Cite

Before May 2002 The weight accorded to reported vs. unreported opinions was different Reported opinions are those published in print Official Reporters

What are Ohio Official Reports? Ohio State Reports, also 2d & 3d series – All Ohio Supreme Court Cases Ohio Appellate Reports, also 2d & 3d – Selected Appellate Cases Ohio Miscellaneous Reports, also 2d series - Selected Trial court cases –

Before May 1, 2002 Published Opinions: controlling authority in the district Always can cite – persuasive to other districts Rules for the Reporting of Opinions, Rule 4

Unpublished opinions – before May 2002 Controlling only as to the parties. Can only be cited –As authority between parties –In the district it was rendered, persuasive only –By appellate court of another district to certify question to Ohio Supreme Court Rules for the Reporting of Opinions, Rule 4

Rationale for Old Rule -In the past, impossible to physically print all appellate decisions -Computerized legal research not accessible to all, although more accessible over time

Changes as of May 1, 2002 Distinctions between, “controlling” and “persuasive” opinions based merely upon whether published abolished. Rules for the Reporting of Opinions, Rule 4

Changes as of May 1, 2002 Court of appeals opinions issued after May 1, 2002 may be cited as legal authority and weighted as deemed appropriate by the courts. Rules for the Reporting of Opinions, Rule 4

Rationale for New Rule (a)many appellate judges give equal weight to published and unpublished opinions (b) technology now permits all appellate opinions to be easily and readily obtained electronically. See commentary to Rule 4

All Opinions post 5/2002 Controlling in the District? Maybe yes ….. comments to Rule 4 "The Committee recognized the concern that with the designations abolished, and all appellate opinions are "controlling," there is some burden on the practitioner …” All opinions are published on the web

All Opinions post 5/2002 Controlling in the District? Maybe no …. Rule 4: "All court of appeals opinions issued after the effective date of these rules may be cited as legal authority and weighted as deemed appropriate by the courts. "

Another Rule Change as of May 1, 2002 Ohio Supreme Court posted to its website:website all Ohio Supreme Court cases all appellate court cases and trial court opinions reported in Ohio Miscellaneous reports. See Rules for the Reporting of Opinions, Rule 9, 10.Rules for the Reporting of Opinions, Rule 9, 10

Web Cite Cases posted assigned a "web cite“ = "public domain cite" 2002-Ohio-2220 first number =year case decided last number = unique number for that case.

Citation format Cases decided after May 1, 2002 must use web cite, and Official Reporter cite. Revisions to Manual of Citations, Bluebook p. 226 Revisions to Manual of Citations Bonacorsi v. Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry. Co., 95 Ohio St.3d 314, 2002-Ohio-2220, 767 N.E.2d Ohio N.E.2d 707 Brown v. McClain Constr. Co., 3d Dist. No , 2002-Ohio Ohio-2834

Citation format Web cite not available, and case is reported: Mers v. Dispatch Printing Co. (1985), 19 Ohio St.3d 100, 483 N.E.2d N.E.2d 150

Citation Format Web cite not available and case not published : Jones v. Brown (Apr. 4, 1998), 8th Dist. No , or Jones v. Brown (Apr. 4, 1998), Cuyahoga App. No

Paragraph Citations Opinions after May 1, 2002 have paragraph numbers assigned to each paragraph Make pinpoint citing identical no matter what source the case is from – the web, Lexis, Westlaw, etc.

Paragraph Citations Bonacorsi v. Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry. Co., 95 Ohio St.3d 314, 2002-Ohio-2220, 767 N.E.2d 707, at ¶15. State v. LaMar, 95 Ohio St.3d 181, Ohio-2128, 767 N.E.2d 166, ¶17-21

No need for pinpoint page cites Consult Supreme Court's website for official paragraph numbers. Paragraphs numbered in "slip opinions" issued by courts of appeals and trial courts may be changed by the Reporter’s Office.

Older Pinpoint Cites OLD WAY: State v. Williams (1997), 79 Ohio St.3d 1, 17, 679 N.E.2d 646, 660 NEW WAY: State v. Williams (1997), 79 Ohio St.3d 1, 17, 679 N.E.2d 646 Don’t need page cite in the parallel citation

Bluebook v. Ohio Manual of Citations Bluebook page 27: State courts promulgate local citation rules which take precedence over Bluebook rules Bluebook page 39: Lists Ohio Supreme Court Manual of Citations and Revisions to Manual of Citations Some law firms/federal judges insist on Bluebook form

Finding Cases with the Web Cite Ohio Supreme Court’s webpage – must type in dashes 2007-Ohio-5743Ohio Supreme Court’s webpage Lexis and Westlaw recognizeWestlaw Casemaker & Fastcase recognize

Ohio Supreme Court Search v. Westlaw & Lexis Ohio Supreme Court’s webpage Opinions & Announcements Better search – at bottom of Supreme Court’s page – Search- Advanced Search A google search – missing search field searching, boolean etc.

Ohio Supreme Ct v. Lexis & WL Ohio Supreme Court’s webpage Try search – drug and dog; exact phrase = drug dog or drug sniffing dog Westlaw – drug /5 dog or canine, locate - /s qualifi! Or reliab! No headnotes on Ohio Supreme Court cases

Finding older unreporteds Lexis and Westlaw – back to late 70s Casemaker – back to 1981 Fastcase – starts 2000 Court websites – vary by court, approx mid 1990s

Public Domain Cites in Other States? Current List on ABA Technology Resource CenterABA Technology Resource Center Neutral Citation, Court Web Sites and Access to Authoritative Case Law, Peter W. Martin, Law Library Journal, Spring 2007.

Alternatives to Lexis & Westlaw Comparison Chart of Low Cost Databases. (Casemaker, Fastcase, Loislaw, Versuslaw)Comparison Chart of Low Cost Databases BNA and CCH – See Electronic Resources page for linksElectronic Resources

Alternatives to Lexis/WL Free Websites – see Legal Research on the Web from Law Library site.Law Library site LexisOne Altlaw The Public Library of Law – state casesThe Public Library of Law PreCYdent Justia FindLaw