News from the United States District Court Northern District of Ohio

New Deadlines for Federal Court Filings

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Important Notice Regarding Time Period Changes Effective December 1, 2009, Including 14-Day Deadlines for Filing Schedules, Statements, Chapter 13 Plans, and Bankruptcy Appellate Briefs. More Information

Proposed Federal Rules Modifications - Request for Comment

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The Judicial Conference of the United States Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure has requested public comment on the preliminary draft of proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy and Criminal Procedure and on the preliminary draft of the proposed comprehensive style revision of the Federal Rules of Evidence by February 16, 2010. Information regarding the proposed Federal Rules and style revisions is available at: http://www.uscourts.gov/rules/

Court Adopts Local Patent Rules

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Upon the recommendation of the Local Patent Committee and the Northern Ohio Advisory Group the Court has adopted Local Patent Rules. Local Patent Rules

Annual Report and Annual Assessment

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The Northern District of Ohio Annual Report and the Annual Assessment of the Civil and Criminal Dockets are now available.

Judge Ann Aldrich

Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Senior United States District Judge Ann Aldrich, the first female appointed to the federal district court in Ohio, passed away May 2, 2010. She was 82 years old. More...

New Chief Judge Sworn In

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. District Judge, Solomon Oliver, Jr., sworn in as Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

More Information...

National Preservation Month Highlights: Cleveland's Howard M. Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

In 1903, Cleveland officials proposed a group plan that local and federal government buildings be placed around a grand mall. On May 20, 1905, the cornerstone for the first building erected under this plan, the federal building and U.S. courthouse, was laid. Today known as the Howard M. Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse, the building remains a monumental anchor to Cleveland's civic mall. To learn more and watch an award-winning documentary about the building, click here. Contact: Sarah Garner, 202-219-0821.

Magistrate Judge

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Attorney James R. Knepp, II was sworn in today to serve as a United States Magistrate Judge in Toledo for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.Â

More Information...

Invitation for Public Comment

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit seeks comments from persons who are in a position to evaluate the performance of Dennis G. Terez, Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Ohio.

More Information...

Proposed Amendments to Federal Criminal and Bankruptcy Rules

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

At its June 2010 meeting, the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure approved for publication proposed changes to the Federal Criminal and Bankruptcy rules and forms. The public comment period for the proposed changes ends on February 16, 2011. The proposed amended and new rules are:

Criminal Rules 5 (clarifies certain procedures regarding international extradition and ensures that treaty obligations of the United States are satisfied); 37 (new rule makes clear the process for obtaining an indicative ruling); and 58 (clarifies certain procedures regarding international extradition and ensures that treaty obligations of the United States are satisfied).

Bankruptcy Rules 3001 (specifies information that must be provided in support of a claim based on certain consumer credit agreements); 7054 (provides more time to respond to a prevailing party’s bill of costs); and 7056 (makes clear that in bankruptcy cases a motion for summary judgment must be filed at least 30 days before the scheduled hearing date); and Official Forms 10 and 25A, and new Official Forms 10 (Attachment A), 10 (Supplement 1), and 10 (Supplement 2) (various changes to Official Form 10, including a new attachment and supplements).

The proposed amendments and forms are available for review and comment at:

http://www.uscourts.gov/RulesAndPolicies/FederalRulemaking/PublishedRules.aspx

Appointment of U.S. District Judge

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Former United States Magistrate Judge Benita Pearson was sworn-in to serve as U.S. District Judge in Youngstown for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on December 29, 2010.

CJA Panel Membership

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is currently accepting applications for membership on the CJA Panel. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2011. More...

Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination Program

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Registration for the 2011 Phase Two Oral Examination administration is now open and will close on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. The exam will be scheduled during the week of July 11, 2011. More...

Proposed Modifications to Local Civil Rules 16.4 - 16.10

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, upon the recommendation of its Attorney Adivsory Group and its ADR Subcommittee, has tentatively adopted proposed modifications to the Local Civil Rules regarding Alternative Dispute Resolution (LR 16.4 through 16.10). Comments regarding the proposed changes will be accepted through June 3, 2011. More...

Modifications to Local Civil Rule 83.7 and Local Criminal Rule 57.7

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has adopted modifications to Local Civil Rule 83.7 and Local Criminal Rule 57.7 regarding Professional Conduct and Attorney Discipline, effective April 4, 2011. More...

Public Notice: Reappointment of Magistrate Judge Kenneth S. McHargh, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Kenneth S. McHargh at Cleveland, Ohio is due to expire on February 29, 2012. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of the magistrate judge to a new eight-year term.

A full public notice of the magistrate judge position is available here.

Comments from members of the bar and the public are invited as to whether the incumbent magistrate judge should be recommended by the panel for reappointment by the court and should be directed to:

Geri M. Smith, Clerk of Court
Carl B. Stokes U.S. Court House
801 W. Superior Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113-1830
publiccomment@ohnd.uscourts.gov

Comments must be received by June 30, 2011.

Modifications to Local Civil Rules, Appendix B: Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual (Appendix B to the Local Civil Rules) has been updated to reflect that the maximum file size for documents submitted electronically has been increased from 5 megabytes to 15 megabytes (see revised Sections 5 and 15). More...

Modifications to Local Civil Rule 83.1

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has adopted modifications to Local Civil Rule 83.1 regarding Photography, Radio, and Television. Comments regarding the changes will be accepted through August 23, 2011, but are preferred by August 1, 2011. More...

Modifications to Local Civil Rules Regarding Alternative Dispute Resolution (Local Rules 16.4 - 16.10)

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Upon the recommendation of its attorney Advisory Group, and after incorporating suggestions made during the public comment period, the Court has significantly revised its Local Rules regarding Alternative Dispute Resolution (LR 16.4 - 16.10). More...

Magistrate Judge

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Attorney Kathleen B. Burke was sworn in Saturday, August 20, 2011 to serve as a United States Magistrate Judge in Akron for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. More...

Proposed Amendments to Federal Rules Published for Comment

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Judicial Conference Adivsory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, Criminal, and Evidence Rules have proposed amendments to their respective rules. The proposed amendments are located on the U.S. Courts website and are open to public comment through February 15, 2012.

Request for Quote

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio seeks to review the quotes of vendors to provide the purchase of sixteen (16) Vmware Vsphere Enterprise plus per Processor licenses. All quoted licenses should also include three (3) year SnS maintenance. Please use the included pricing sheet to provide your quote for the above listed software licenses and maintenance.

Your quote must be signed by an official authorized to contractually bind your organization and must indicate that it is valid for at least 60 days. The response must be bound together at the upper left hand corner only. Please do not include binders with your response. One (1) original and one (1) copy of your Request for Quote (RFQ) should be received by the Contracting Officer, NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M, EST. September 27, 2011

Download the RFQ here.

Request for Quote

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio seeks to review the quotes of vendors to provide the purchase of three hundred (300) VMware View Enterprise licenses and three hundred (300) VMware View Premier upgrade licenses. All quoted licenses should also include three (3) year SnS maintenance. Please use the included pricing sheet to provide your quote for the above listed software licenses and maintenance.

Download the RFQ here.

Technical Modifications to Local Civil Rule 67.1 and Appendices D and E

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Technical modifications were made to Local Civil Rule 67.1 via General Order 2011-19 changing the Court's depository from Bank of America's Court On Line Banking System to the Administrative Office's Court Registry Investment System (CRIS) which invests in the Bureau of Public Debt's Federal Investment Program of Government Accounting Series (GAS) securities. More...

PACER Fee Increase, Effective April 1, 2012

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

An increase in the electronic public access (EPA) fee, from eight cents to 10 cents per page, will take effect April 1, 2012. More...

Revised Civil Cover Sheet with New Nature of Suits

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Civil Cover Sheet has been updated to include 7 new nature of suits approved by the
Judicial Conference of the U.S. Courts. Thirteen nature of suits that are no longer needed have also been removed from the form. The updated Civil Cover Sheet is available here.

More Information

Judge Thomas F. Hogan Named Director of the Administrative Office

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. announced today the appointment of Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan as the director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Hogan succeeds James C. Duff, who served five years as the chief administrative officer of the federal courts. More...

Reappointment of Magistrate Judge Kenneth S. McHargh

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has reappointed Magistrate Judge Kenneth S. McHargh to an additional eight-year term, effective March 1, 2012.

Cameras in Court Pilot Project Now Has 70 Videos Online

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The federal judiciary's digital video pilot, which started in July, now has posted some 70 videos of various courtroom proceeding in eight separate cases. Of the more than 70 videos posted on the U.S. Courts website, 61 of those videos are from the Northern District of Ohio. In addition, of the eight separate cases that are listed, two of those cases were from the Northern District of Ohio.

In all, 14 federal trial courts are participating in the three-year pilot.

The pilot is limited to civil, not criminal, cases. No proceedings may be recorded without the approval of the presiding judge and the consent of the parties. The recording are posted on the U.S. Courts website.

Increases to the Miscellaneous Fee Schedule

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule will increase on November 1, 2011 for various services. Please click here for a listing of the current fees and increases effective November 1, 2011.

Two New Offerings for the Judiciary's Public Access to Court Electronic Records Service

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Public Access and Records Management Division (PARMD) has announced two new offerings for the judiciary’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records service.

Free PACER Training Site

A free-of-charge website offers access to a training database through the judiciary’s PACER service. The site features data from real cases in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York over a six-month period in 2007. The training site can be accessed via “Frequently Used” on the PACER website home page, www.pacer.gov. No registration is required, and a login and password are posted on the training site’s Welcome Page. Users can search the database to find cases to explore. As searches are conducted, a transaction receipt display will explain what charge would have been accrued for the PACER service. Reviewing the receipts will help users understand their PACER charges and improve their search techniques to minimize charges.

Mobile PACER Case Locator Launched

The judiciary has launched a new mobile web version of the PACER Case Locator. The PACER Case Locator allows users to search for court records in all district, bankruptcy, and appellate courts. The Mobile PACER Case Locator is accessible using Apple devices, such as iPads, as well as Android devices version 2.2 or higher. When using supported mobile devices, users will be redirected to the Mobile PACER Case Locator when visiting pcl.uscourts.gov to search for court records on the go. The Mobile PACER Case Locator can be accessed directly by users visiting pcl.uscourts.gov/searchmobile. There is nothing to install – it just works. For further information about these new services, contact the PACER Service Center at 800-676-6856.

Opening of Attorney Lounge in the John F. Seiberling Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse - Akron, Ohio

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is pleased to announce the opening of an Attorney Lounge located on the B-3 Level of the John F. Seiberling Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Akron, Ohio. The Attorney Lounge is adjacent to to the cafeteria. Amenities of the lounge include a conference area, wireless access to attorneys admitted to practice in the district, telephones, a printer, scanner and copier.

The Honorable George W. White

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Honorable George W. White, Former Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, died on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at age 80.

Judge White was appointed to the District Court bench by President James Earl Carter in 1980. Judge White served as Chief Judge of the Court from February 10, 1995 to February 26, 1999 when he retired from the bench. Judge White later served as the first director of the Cleveland Browns Foundation, a philanthropic foundation.

Judge White was a native of Duquesne, Pennsylvania and moved to Cleveland in 1948. He graduated from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1955. Judge White previously served on Cleveland City Council for 5 years and also served as judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Judge White was the first African American to serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and was also the first African American to serve as Chief Judge. Judge White was married to Lillian White, a former school teacher, until her death, and had three children: David, Lori White Laisure, and Steven (deceased).

One newspaper headline characterized Judge White as no-nonsense, yet the king of calmness. He often said that you can catch more bees with honey than with vinegar. Among his notable cases were the trials of former Teamsters leader Jackie Presser, porn king Reuben Sturman and Michael Monus, head of Phar-Mor.

Changes to Federal Court Rules

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate, Bankruptcy, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence took effect December 1, 2011.

Congress took no action after the changes were approved by Supreme Court more than seven months earlier. That means new amendments to these rules are now in effect:

Appellate Rules 4 and 40
Bankruptcy Rules 2003, 2019, 3001, 4004, and 6003.
Criminal Rules 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 32, 40, 41, 43, and 49.
Evidence Rules 101-1103.

In addition, new Bankruptcy Rules 1004.2 and 3002.1 are in effect, as well as new Criminal Rule 4.1.

The text of the amended rules and extensive supporting documents is available.

Free Online PACER Training

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:38:38 -0500

Interview of Judge Dan Aaron Polster and Judge Kenneth S. McHargh - STAR Program

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On Friday, December 2nd Judges Polster and McHargh were interviewed by WOIO reporter Harry Boomer regarding Cleveland's Successful Transitions-Accelerated Reentry (STAR) Program, which assists high risk offenders in reentering the Greater Cleveland Community. Watch the video here.

GPO FDSys Online Pilot

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Northern District of Ohio is now part of an online pilot conducted by the Government Printing Office (GPO) called FDsys (Federal Digital System) which provides free online access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. All OHND written opinions from 2004 to the present are now available for free download from the FDsys site. FDsys is similar to the CourtWEB system that OHND already participates in (http://courtweb.pamd.uscourts.gov/courtweb/), but also includes documents from other branches and agencies, on which users can conduct federated searches. The written opinions are also freely available through the PACER system. Link to FDSys: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/"

James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley U. S. Courthouse

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The main entrance of the James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley U. S. Courthouse, located in Toledo, has reopened following renovation. Visitors may now gain entrance to the building utilizing the entrance located on Spielbusch Avenue.

Application for Appointment to the Criminal Justice Act Panel

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

PUBLIC NOTICE: APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT PANEL

The Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”) Plan of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio sets forth provisions for furnishing representation in federal court for any person financially unable to obtain representation in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. Pursuant to Section VI(A)(1)(a) of the CJA Plan, the Court shall establish panels of private attorneys for each court location in the district who are eligible and desire to be appointed to provide representation in criminal cases under the Criminal Justice Act.

Pursuant to Section VI(A)(1)(b) of the CJA Plan, to be considered for appointment to the CJA Panel:

“Attorneys . . . must be members in good standing of the Federal Bar of this Court, have experience in, and knowledge of, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the United States Sentencing Guidelines and have five (5) years experience in felony trials in state or federal court. In addition, panel attorneys must certify completion of at least one seminar annually on federal criminal defense practice.”

Effective January 1, 2006, all attorneys are required to file electronically pursuant to modifications to Local Civil Rule 5.1(c) and Local Criminal Rule 49.2(c) and pursuant to its Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual.

Attorneys wishing to be considered for membership on a CJA Panel who meet the eligibility requirements may submit an application no later than March 30, 2012 to:

Clerk of Court
ATTN: CJA Panel Application
Carl B. Stokes U.S. Court House
801 West Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1830
cjaapplication@ohnd.uscourts.gov

PACER Fee Increase Effective April 1, 2012

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The Judicial Conference of the United States Courts has amended the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule to increase the PACER Internet access fee from eight cents per page to ten cents per page and to raise the waiver from $10 to $15 in a quarterly billing cycle, effective April 1, 2012. The 30 page cap on reports and case-related documents (excluding transcripts) will remain in effect for a maximum charge of $3.00. The revised schedule may be found here.

Proposed Amendments to the Sixth Circuit Rules and Internal Operating Procedures

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is proposing comprehensive amendments to the Sixth Circuit Rules and Internal Operating Procedures. Pursuant to 6 Cir. R. 47(a), all interested parties have the opportunity to register comments to the proposed changes. Comments should be addressed to Leonard Green, Clerk, and emailed to ca06-rules_comments@ca6.uscourts.gov no later than July 12, 2012.

Miscellaneous Fee Schedule Changes

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

At its March 2012 session, the Judicial Conference approved minor changes to the miscellaneous fee schedules for the district courts and Court of Federal Claims. Specifically, two fees were adjusted for inflation--the fee for exemplification, set forth at Item 3 of the District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (raised from $18 to $21), and the record search fee, set forth at Item 8 of the Fee Schedule for the Court of Federal Claims (raised from $26 to $30). Revised fee schedules, reflecting these minor amendments, may be found here. These changes will become effective on June 1, 2012.

Notice of Solicitation for Contract Court Reporting Services Firm, Toledo, Ohio and Surrounding Vicinity

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Notice of Solicitation for Contract Court Reporting Services Firm, Toledo, Ohio and Surrounding Vicinity
Solicitation: USDC 12-05-TOL
Posting Date: May 24, 2012
Responses Due: 12:00 Noon, June 22, 2012

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio seeks to enter into a contract with a court reporting firm in the Toledo vicinity (including Michigan based firms), to provide court reporting services as needed for two active judges, two senior judges and two magistrate judges at the courthouse located at 1716 Spielbusch Avenue, Toledo, Ohio. Interested vendors may click on the following links for additional information and the actual solicitation for review and completion.

Additional Information

Solicitation USDC 12-05

Appointment of U.S. District Judge

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Attorney Jeffrey J. Helmick was sworn in to serve as U.S. District Judge in Toledo for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on June 18, 2012.

Amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure as Approved by the Supreme Court

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Supreme Court has approved and transmitted to Congress amendments to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure that will take effect on December 1, 2012 unless Congress takes action to reject, modify or defer them. For detailed information on the amendments see: http://www.uscourts.gov/RulesAndPolicies/FederalRulemaking/PendingRules.aspx

U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation Schedules Hearings in Cleveland

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has scheduled a hearing session to consider various matters on July 26, 2012 in the Ceremonial Courtroom (19A) of the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse in Cleveland. Oral argument will commence at 9:30 a.m. Counsel presenting oral argument must be present at 8:00 a.m. For more information click here.

Modifications to Local Civil Rules 3.1, 67.1 and 67.2

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Modifications were made to Local Civil Rule 3.1 regarding Assignment of Cases; Related Cases, Refiled, Dismissed and Remanded Cases. Technical modifications were made to Local Civil Rules 67.1 and 67.2 regarding Deposits and Disbursements. More...

Court Re-entry / STAR Program

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The district's Court Re-entry / STAR program was the subject of a July 21, 2012 story in The Plain Dealer (Federal re-entry program puts judge and offender on same team: Margaret Bernstein). The STAR (Successful Transitions-Accelerated Reentry) Program is a collaboration between the Northern District of Ohio U.S. Pretrial Services and Probation Office and community resource providers to facilitate safe and successful reintegration of offenders into the community, through early assessment and planning.

Pilot Project for Electronic Notice and Service of Pre-Sentence Reports in Criminal Cases

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Pretrial Services and Probation Department and the Clerk's Office have been working on a pilot project to provide judges and attorneys with electronic access to pre-sentence reports in criminal cases through the CM/ECF system. Some counsel have already been served pre-sentence reports electronically. If the pilot project continues to be successful, we anticipate that electronic filing of pre-sentence reports will become standard in all criminal cases.

Counsel in criminal cases should be aware that:

They may receive electronic notice in a particular case that the pre-sentence report will be provided electronically, rather than on paper. Only the cases of a few judges are included in the pilot at this time, although the number of participating judges is being expanded as this is being written.
Electronic access to the pre-sentence report in CM/ECF is only provided to those who would have received paper copies in the past. The Probation Department identifies the attorneys who should receive notice and access to the pre-sentence report when they enter the report into CM/ECF. If the case has more than one defendant, only the attorney for the defendant named in the report and the U.S. Attorney will receive the electronic notice. The docket entry for that filing will only be available to those attorneys. The public and other attorneys on the case will not be able to view the docket entry.
The pre-sentence report itself (the PDF document) will be sealed. Because the report is sealed, the document will not become immediately available to the attorneys who receive electronic notice of the filing until the Clerk's Office takes the additional step of "releasing" the document, which makes it available to the attorneys previously identified by the Probation Department as needing access. This additional step may take until the next business day, but will typically be done much sooner, often within a matter of minutes. So, if you have received notice that a pre-sentence report has been entered into CM/ECF, and the system does not provide access to it immediately, just try again later in the day. Counsel will be sent a second electronic notice when the pre-sentence report is "released" for viewing. If the report remains unavailable for a full business day, please give the Clerk's Office a call so that we may assist you.
Please note that because the pre-sentence report will be sealed, you must log into the CM/ECF system with your CM/ECF login and password to retrieve it. You will not be able to access the pre-sentence report by entering only your PACER login and password, as you might with other documents, because the PACER system does not track the necessary information required to establish that you are associated with the case and are eligible to view the pre-sentence report.

The Pretrial Services and Probation Office and the Clerk's Office are currently working with a limited number of judges on this pilot project now, but hope to expand it to all criminal cases in the near future.

Public Comment Period and Revamped Website Open

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The public comment period has opened for several proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure, which govern litigation in the federal courts. The comment period closes February 15, 2013.

This year, when members of the bench, bar and public submit their comments on changes to the appellate, bankruptcy, civil, criminal, and evidence rules, they’ll notice a revamped website for the Federal Rules.

“Our goal in the reorganization was a simpler, more logical starting point for the bench, practicing bar, and public to access the federal rules and forms. We have attempted to describe the rulemaking process in plain language while providing straightforward access to the rules, the work of the Judicial Conference’s Rules Committees, and other historical and archival material,” said Benjamin Robinson, of the Judicial Conference Rules Committee Support Office.

To make information easier to find, the Rules section is divided into general categories: effective, pending, and proposed rules published for public comment; about the rulemaking process, and records and archives of the Rules Committees.

“By making the site easier to use and information more accessible,” said Robinson, “we hope to make the rulemaking process even more transparent and collaborative.”

Congress.gov Launches Beta

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The Library of Congress has announced the launch of Congress.gov, a new resource for United States legislative information. Congress.gov was created as the successor to THOMAS (http://thomas.loc.gov/) the current public site for federal legislative. The new site, which is currently being beta tested, contains legislation from the 107th Congress (2001) to the present, member of Congress profiles from the 93rd Congress (1973) to the present, and selected member profiles from the 80th through the 92nd Congresses (1947 to 1972). Over the next two years, Congress.gov will be adding information and features, eventually incorporating all of the information currently available on THOMAS. Users of Congress.gov can search across all of the content in the system (as of the launch, this includes bill text, summary and status, and Member profiles), refine results, quickly see the status of a bill on a timeline, and view the new Member pages with legislation sponsored and cosponsored. Congress.gov is also designed to dynamically fit the size of the user's screen, whether it is a monitor, a tablet, or a smartphone. The launch of Congress.gov marks the first public announcement of the eventual end of THOMAS, which will be deactivated once all content from it is migrated to Congress.gov.

Electronic Notice & Service of Pre-Sentence Reports In All Criminal Cases

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Pretrial Services and Probation Department and the Clerk’s Office have been working on a pilot project to provide judges and attorneys with electronic access to pre-sentence reports in criminal cases through the CM/ECF system. The pilot project is a success. Therefore, beginning Monday, October 15, 2012 electronic filing of pre-sentence reports will become standard in all criminal cases.

Counsel in criminal cases should be aware that:

They will receive electronic notice that the pre-sentence report has been filed in CM/ECF and available electronically.
Electronic access to the pre-sentence report in CM/ECF is only provided to those who would have received paper copies in the past. The Probation Department identifies the attorneys who should receive notice and access to the pre-sentence report when they enter the report into CM/ECF. If the case has more than one defendant, only the attorney for the defendant named in the report and the U.S. Attorney will receive the electronic notice. The docket entry for that filing will only be available to those attorneys. The public and other attorneys on the case will not be able to view the docket entry.
The pre-sentence report itself (the PDF document) will be sealed. Because the report is sealed, the document will not become immediately available to the attorneys who receive electronic notice of the filing until the Clerk’s Office takes the additional step of “releasing” the document, which makes it available to the attorneys previously identified by the Probation Department as needing access. This additional step may take until the next business day, but will typically be done much sooner, often within a matter of minutes. So, if you have received notice that a pre-sentence report has been entered into CM/ECF, and the system does not provide access to it immediately, just try again later in the day. Counsel will be sent a second electronic notice when the pre-sentence report is “released” for viewing. If the report remains unavailable for a full business day, please give the Clerk’s Office a call so that we may assist you.
Please note that because the pre-sentence report will be sealed, you must log into the CM/ECF system with your CM/ECF login and password to retrieve it. You will not be able to access the pre-sentence report by entering only your PACER login and password, as you might with other documents, because the PACER system does not track the necessary information required to establish that you are associated with the case and are eligible to view the pre-sentence report.

Attorney Admission and Pro Hac Vice Fees Increased

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Effective January 1, 2013, the regular attorney admission fee will increase from $216 to $225 and the pro hac vice fee will increase from $100 to $120.

Adoption of Local Civil Rule 16.3.1 and Technical Modification to Local Civil Rule 16.2, Effective January 1, 2013

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Court adopted Local Civil Rule 16.3.1 regarding the Review of Decisions by the Commissioner of Social Security. A technical modification was made to Local Civil Rule 16.2 regarding Tracks and Evaluation of Cases. More...

Chief Justice Roberts' Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has issued his "2012 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary," focusing on efforts by the federal courts to contain costs. To see the full report, visit this link at the U.S. Supreme Court website.

Application for Appointment to the Criminal Justice Act Panel

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

PUBLIC NOTICE: APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT PANEL

The Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”) Plan of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio sets forth provisions for furnishing representation in federal court for any person financially unable to obtain representation in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. Pursuant to Section VI(A)(1)(a) of the CJA Plan, the Court shall establish panels of private attorneys for each court location in the district who are eligible and desire to be appointed to provide representation in criminal cases under the Criminal Justice Act.

Pursuant to Section VI(A)(1)(b) of the CJA Plan, to be considered for appointment to the CJA Panel:

“Attorneys . . . must be members in good standing of the Federal Bar of this Court, have experience in, and knowledge of, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the United States Sentencing Guidelines and have five (5) years experience in felony trials in state or federal court. In addition, panel attorneys must certify completion of at least one seminar annually on federal criminal defense practice.”

Effective January 1, 2006, all attorneys are required to file electronically pursuant to modifications to Local Civil Rule 5.1(c) and Local Criminal Rule 49.2(c) and pursuant to its Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual.

Attorneys wishing to be considered for membership on a CJA Panel who meet the eligibility requirements may submit an application no later than March 29, 2013 to:

Clerk of Court
ATTN: CJA Panel Application
Carl B. Stokes U.S. Court House
801 West Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1830
cjaapplication@ohnd.uscourts.gov

CM/ECF Mobile Query Feature

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CM/ECF now offers a mobile query interface which provides optimized display on mobile devices. View the instructions here.

Amended Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

At its March 2013 session, the Judicial Conference amended the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule for the appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The revised schedule will go into effect on April 1, 2013.

Announcement of Administrative Fee

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Effective May 1, 2013, pursuant to Judicial Conference Policy, all federal district courts will begin charging a $50 administrative fee for filing a civil action, suit or proceeding in a district court, in addition to the $350 filing fee. The administrative fee does not apply to an application for a writ of habeas corpus or to persons granted in forma pauperis status under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

Contract Court Reporter Services

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is seeking to enter into a contract with a court reporting firm to provide court reporting services as needed for both the District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court located in Cleveland, Ohio. All offers must be received by 12:00 noon on June 17, 2013.

View Solicitation