Ohio Supreme Court Addresses Coronavirus
On March 19, 2020, the Ohio Supreme Court addressed the Coronavirus. The Cornovirus, technically known as COVID-19, has made its mark on the world, and the State of Ohio has been no exception. Courts are places were a lot of people gather in a single place at once. Even small courts in small towns can have more than fifty people in a room at one time. Courts in larger cities can have thousands of people pass through the hallways throughout the course of a day. In this new era of quarantine and social distancing, courts are potential breeding grounds for spreading the Coronavirus. The Ohio Supreme Court addressed that reality in its news conference on March 19, 2020.
Legal Rights Versus Medical Rights
The American system of justice is one of the cornerstones of our way of life. It provides a peaceful and orderly way of settling disputes. It states that people accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty. It provides a way out of abusive marriages. It protects children from abuse, neglect and dependency, while giving the parents of those children due process of law in their quest to remedy the conditions that led to the removal of their children and to win them back. Without courts, we could be forced to settle our disputes in the streets. Criminal justice would be in the hands of mobs, instead of judges and juries guided by the law.
This system has resulted in ever-growing courthouses, many of which are the centerpieces of cities and towns. Crowds of people pour into these buildings daily, ranging from those who work in the courthouse, the people involved in litigation, and their attorneys. All of these folks come from various places and walks of life to converge into one place. Like any crowded place, germs can spread. Most of the time, it involves a harmless cold or flu. In 2020, Ohio Courts, along with other places where crowds gather, were identified as potential breeding grounds for the Coronavirus.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Justice Maurine O’Connor spoke for the Ohio Supreme Court in stating that Ohio’s court system would look very different for a while. Hearings would be done by video or telephone, when possible. Fewer people would be arrested for low-level crimes. Evictions and foreclosures would be delayed. Prisoners at high risk of catching and being harmed from COVID-19, would be released on bond. Chief Justice O’Connor pledged four million dollars to help Ohio courts develop or enhance access to justice by video or teleconference.
Local Ohio Courts Issue Orders To Address Coronavirus
Local Ohio courts have been issuing orders to address the threat of spreading Coronavirus. These orders do precisely what the Ohio Supreme Court asked them to do—limit contact, conduct hearings online or by telephone, continue hearings that may require people to be heard in person, and revisit bail options for low level offenders. Each courts addressed these issues in their own unique way. Experienced attorneys are already on the Court’s mailing lists and have received this information directly from the courts.
A New Court System Requires An Experienced Attorney
This new way of handling cases means it is even more important than ever that you have experienced counsel on your side. You may not get your day in court as quickly as you like. That may mean looking at creative ways of getting things done in the meantime. Attorney Gigiano has practiced in over ten different counties in two different states. His experience with different states’ justice systems has given him the perspective to see that there are different ways to achieve one’s goals through the courts. In a crisis, lawyers look to creative and intelligent magistrates and judges to lead the way. Conversely, judges and magistrates often listen to input from creative and intelligent attorneys. Attorney Gigiano has been that attorney providing novel solutions to problems in the past in Ohio. He certainly will be looking for solutions to solving his problems in the current one—some of those solutions could be ones the judiciary embrace. Attorney Daniel Gigiano’s office is located in downtown Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, and he can be reached at 330-336-3330.
