Overview

• The Ohio Judiciary is primarily a locally funded court system.  Through the judiciary/supreme court budget, the state pays 100 % of the salaries of the justices of the Supreme Court and the judges of the courts of appeals, 90 % of the salaries of the judges of the courts of common pleas, and approximately 45 % of the salaries of the judges of the municipal and county courts. The state also pays 100% of the salaries of the 270 employees of the Supreme Court, the 300 employees of the courts of appeals, and one-eighth of the salaries of the 88 elected county clerks of court.
• The state appropriation for Ohio’s courts in FY12 is essentially the same as in FY11 ($143.1 million in FY11 and $142.9 million in FY12).  To reduce spending, they have frozen salaries of judges and staff, have furloughed staff and have cut back on technology initiatives.  Local courts in particular have been forced to take measures to reduce costs because local funding has been cut significantly. The Supreme Court has allowed support positions to remain unfilled and has worked with local courts to reduce the need for the assignment of retired judges.
• Technology initiatives include the videoconferencing of hearing.

Reports and Articles

• Cindy Leise.  "Commissioner Proposes Cutting County Teen Crisis Services."  The Chronicle-Telegram. August 18, 2011.
• Michael Pitman.  "Court Proposes ‘Deep Cut’ in 2011 Budget."  Middletown Journal. November 16, 2010.
• Allison Wenger.  "Ohio Supreme Court Justice Has Plan For Budget."  NBC4i. July 22, 2010.
• Mark Puente.  "Cleveland Municipal Court Workers Get Double-Dip Offer and Pay Cuts."  Real Time News. January 7, 2010.

Gavel to Gavel

• Database. Search the Gavel to Gavel legislation database based on state, year, legislation category, or any combination.