APRIL 30, 2026
Supreme Court Recertifies Summit County Specialized Docket
Summit County Common Pleas Court’s specialized docket for mental health recently met the standards to earn its final recertification from the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Statements Suspect Made to Police After Waiving His Right to an Attorney Can Be Used in Prosecution
A Hamilton County suspect’s rights under the Ohio and U.S. constitutions were not violated when, after he was appointed a lawyer, he met with police, signed a written waiver to speak with them, and confessed to several crimes, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today.
APRIL 29, 2026
The state does not owe compensation to an oil and gas waste injection company for the temporary closure of two wells in Trumbull County suspected of causing earthquakes, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today.
Customer Charges for Operating Older Power Plants Upheld
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) rejected a claim that consumers overpaid $74.5 million for the operation of two coal-fired power plants, partially owned by the Ohio Power Company (AEP Ohio), which lost money on electricity generation in 2018 and 2019. The Supreme Court of Ohio today affirmed that decision.
APRIL 28, 2026
Court May Not Retroactively Rewrite Statute to Apply to Same-Sex Couple’s Parental Rights Dispute
An Ohio appeals court exceeded its authority when it ordered a trial court to determine if a same-sex couple “would have been married” if same-sex marriage had been legal in Ohio during the couple’s relationship, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today.
APRIL 24, 2026
Neighbor’s Long-Time Maintenance of Unused Railway Property Does Not Entitle It to Ownership
A Summit County business failed to provide enough evidence to claim ownership of two neighboring parcels of land it had maintained since 1997, but are actually owned by Norfolk Southern Railway Company, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today.
APRIL 23, 2026
Only Process Set by State Law Can Be Used for Postconviction Challenge to Death Sentence
A Trumbull County man on death row since 1992 must follow a process set by state law, and not rely on court procedural rules, to challenge his sentence, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today.
APRIL 21, 2026
Legal Legacy: Justice Beyond the Courtroom
This month, the Supreme Court of Ohio traveled to Carrollton to hear three cases before a unique audience: more than 900 high school students. The visit to Carroll County was part of the Supreme Court’s long-running Off-Site Court Program, which brings oral arguments into local high schools across the state.
MARCH 26, 2026
Legal Legacy: Sam Sheppard “The Fugitive”
In 1954, a violent crime inside a lakefront Bay Village home drew national attention. Marilyn Sheppard was bludgeoned to death, and her husband, osteopathic physician Sam Sheppard, became the prime suspect. The subsequent trial and appeals were among the most highly publicized in Ohio history and later set the standard for how courts manage intense media coverage to protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
MARCH 5, 2026
Legal Legacy: Monthly Themed Exhibits Honor America 250
As part of its America 250 initiative, the Supreme Court of Ohio has unveiled a series of monthly exhibits in its newly renovated Marble Showcase. The rotating exhibits celebrate Ohio's rich history, culture, and contributions to the nation in anticipation of America’s 250th anniversary.
MARCH 17, 2026
Justice’s Law Review Article Proposes Reconsidering Judicial Age Limits
Ohioans might be open to increasing the 70-year age limit for judges to run for office, but only by a few more years, and as long as the judges leave the bench when they reach their 80s, according to research conducted by Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Patrick F. Fischer.
MARCH 12, 2026
Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Looks Forward to New Judgeship Appointment
A new general and domestic relations judge is taking the bench at the Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court.
APRIL 29, 2026
Supreme Court Highlights Reentry Support Efforts During Second Chance Month
April is Second Chance Month, a national observance dedicated to building awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals to reintegrate into society successfully.
Awards Announced for Court Improvements to Assist Children and Families
Funding and technical assistance have been awarded to enhance Ohio court operations for children and families and to improve outcomes for youth. The grants, totaling $912,400, and the technical support were announced by the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Children and Families Section in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.
APRIL 27, 2026
Supreme Court Recertifies Summit County Specialized Docket
Summit County Common Pleas Court’s specialized docket for mental health recently met the standards to earn its final recertification from the Supreme Court of Ohio.
APRIL 24, 2026
February Ohio Bar Exam Results Announced
The Supreme Court of Ohio today released the results from the February 2026 Ohio Bar Examination. A total of 338 aspiring attorneys took the exam, and 143 – or 42% – passed. Of the 116 examinees who took the exam for the first time, 71 (61%) received a passing score. The successful examinees represent 38 Ohio counties and seven states.
APRIL 21, 2026
Board of Professional Conduct Files Disciplinary Case Reports and Recommendations
The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct has filed three case reports with the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Seats of Justice: Tuscarawas County
The next stop on the journey through Ohio’s county courthouses takes viewers to Tuscarawas County in eastern Ohio.
As the year winds down, it’s a chance to review the good work of the Supreme Court of Ohio, from its important legal decisions to its resourceful approaches to serve the courts, legal community, and public.
APRIL 30, 2026
Ohio Supreme Court Rules Injection Well Owner Won’t be Compensated for Shutdown: Youngstown Business Journal
The Supreme Court of Ohio on Wednesday ruled that the owner of a local injection well is not entitled to compensation from the state after its operations were shut down more than 10 years ago.
Supreme Court reverses local appeals ruling on Weathersfield injection well: Tribune Chronicle
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the state does not owe compensation to Howland based AWMS Water Solutions for suspension of the operations of an injection well AWMS drilled along state Route 169 in Weathersfield just north of Niles more than a decade ago.