Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger

A new statewide, bipartisan initiative aimed at modernizing and improving Ohio's criminal justice laws was announced at the Ohio Statehouse on Sept. 10.

The new Criminal Justice Recodification Committee has a diverse group of 24 members, including Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger.

“A well-written state criminal code will assist judges in their obligations to protect society and make sure the rights of an accused are protected. The General Assembly should be applauded for creating this committee, and I’m eager to join in the effort to clarify and simplify the code,” Justice Lanzinger said.

Auglaize County Common Pleas Court Judge Fred Pepple will chair the committee, and he said the committee’s draft should be a “clearer, more consistent, more proportional criminal code that protects and serves all the people in our efforts to have a safer and fairer Ohio.”

Clinton County Common Pleas Court Judge John Rudduck will also serve on the committee.

A report is due to the General Assembly by Aug. 1, 2016.

View the news conference on the Ohio Channel.