The Supreme Court Ohio Annual Report

Clerk's Office
Staff 2009
Valerie Cannell
Karen Fields
Kristina Frost
Helka Gienapp
Marcia Gipson
Sandra Grosko
Kimberly Hamiter
Thomas Imber
Joella Jones
Justin Kudela
Amy Reitz
Doris Roche
Amie Vetter
Nathan Wasson
William Zapp
Office of the Clerk
The Office of the Clerk maintains and enforces the Rules
of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio and recommends
appropriate rule amendments to the Court. Deputy clerks
and staff attorneys provide assistance related to procedural
issues for attorneys, litigants and the public through written
communications, seminar presentations, and phone and office
consultations. The office also provides answers to frequently
asked questions on the Supreme Court Web site.
In 2009, the Office of the Clerk processed 2,363 new cases,
a 6 percent decrease from 2008. The office also processed the
final disposition of 2,484 cases, a 2 percent decrease from 2008.
The Court’s case clearance rate was 105 percent for 2009, up
from 101 percent in 2008.
In 2009, the Office of the Clerk completed a thorough
update of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
The rules were renumbered with Arabic instead of Roman
numerals to bring them into compliance with the Supreme
Court Rule Drafting Manual. In addition, general categories
were re-labeled as “sections” with specific portions of each
section labeled “rules.” Other significant changes include
the addition of a new section covering the Supreme Court’s
original jurisdiction for petition challenges according to Article
II, Section 1g, of the Ohio Constitution, and another new
section that covers mediation proceedings and emphasizes
the availability of this option at the Supreme Court level. Most
other modifications were nonsubstantive and made to clarify
language.
The Clerk also:
• Implemented an electronic case issues-tracking
database for Court staff use, with plans to provide
public access in 2010
• Began referring certain debts for unpaid costs in
attorney discipline cases to the Attorney General’s
Revenue Recovery Section for collection
• Moved to simplify filing options by accepting local
rules for filing electronically, accepting credit cards
for payment of docket fees and undertaking an initial
review of e-filing systems for future implementation at
the Supreme Court
• Streamlined the filing and processing of affidavits of
disqualification to clarify the procedure for judges and
the public
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