Law Commons^™

Ohio's Modern Courts Amendment Must Be Amended: Why And How, Richard S. Walinski, Mark D. Wagoner Jr.

Cleveland State Law Review

A 1968 amendment to the Ohio Constitution granted the Supreme Court of Ohio the authority to promulgate “rules governing practice and procedure” for Ohio courts. The amendment also provided that “[a]ll laws in conflict with such rules shall be of no further force or effect after such rules have taken effect” and that no rule may “abridge, enlarge, or modify any substantive right.”

Although the amendment was explicit about automatic repeal of existing laws, it says nothing about whether the General Assembly may legislate on a procedural matter after a court rule takes effect. That silence has caused enduring confusion. …

Constitutional History Of Ohio Appellate Courts, Lee E. Skeel

Cleveland State Law Review

The right of appeal, using the word appeal in the broad sense now given it in the Appellate Procedure Act of Ohio, contemplates the removal of a case after judgment or final order, from a court of inferior jurisdiction to a court of higher jurisdiction, in the judicial process for retrial or review. Appeal, particularly on questions of law, is not the procedure intended to be depended on in the first instance to win a lawsuit. Appellate courts were provided in order to protect against trial court mistakes which result in substantial prejudice, or in the denial of justice to …