Ohio

Open Discovery Coming to Local Criminal Cases This Week

By Cleveland Law Library

Cleveland.com reports that the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office is launching a new web-based case-management system that will allow defense counsel to view, print and download witness statements, police reports and other documents in criminal cases. This database of information should be available some time this week as part of the Prosecutor's plan to comply with a new Local Rule (23.1) requiring open criminal discovery. This system, which was developed in-house at the Prosecutor's office, is being touted as the first of its kind in the country. Redactions are still possible where necessary, but defense lawyers should be able to obtain all other information within 7 days after a defendant's first pretrial hearing. Although Prosecutor Bill Mason still plans to appeal the rule as allegedly unconstitutional, cleveland.com says that he is keeping an "open mind." According to the Common Pleas Court's Notice, the new Rule takes effect tomorrow, on February 10th. Click here to read our prior post about adoption of the Rule.

Full post as published by Cleveland Law Library Weblog on February 09, 2009 (boomark / email).