The foolproof way to find an Ohio case is to have a full or partial citation for the case. Example: Shaffer v. Frontrunner, Inc., 57 Ohio App. 3d 18, 566 N.E.2d 193 (1990); this cite includes the full title of the case, the cite to the Ohio Appellate reporter, the cite to the North Eastern 2d reporter series and the date of the opinion.

If that information isn’t available, answer as many of these four questions as you can:

1. Is the case in state court or federal court?

2. Is the case a trial court case or has an appeal been taken?

3. Do you know the name of one or both parties?

4. Do you know approximately what date the case was filed or decided?

Depending upon the information you have, find the appropriate section of this outline to determine where you might look for an opinion or docket information for this case.

Trial Court:

• Printed Opinions: Very few found; source is Ohio Miscellaneous Reports, first and second series, available in law libraries or fee-based online services or lexisone.com (see below). More recent O.Misc. opinions (1998 and later) may be found on Ohio Supreme Court's Opinion Search. In the pull down menu for "source' select miscellaneous.

• Web Opinions: Very few, see www.sconet.state.oh.us/Web_Sites/courts/

  Some courts have dockets online, which will enable you to see the court's judgment in a case and an opinion, if one was written.

• Last Resort: The clerk’s office will be able to get an opinion for you. There will be a charge.
  Example: Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Clerk’s Office: coc.cuyahogacounty.us. No specific information is given about how to find a case file.

  Other Ohio Counties: If the Clerk’s Office isn’t available through www.sconet.state.oh.us/Web_Sites/courts, addresses and phone numbers are available in the BNA's directory of state and federal courts, judges, and clerks: a state-by-state and federal listing. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of National Affairs, 1992.

Appellate Courts:

• Printed opinions in various series of reporters found in law libraries and online in fee-based services.

• Web Opinions: See link above to connect to some appellate districts' websites. Many of these sites have current opinions online. Also try:

  • Lexisone.com: Last five years of case law. Free but requires registration.

  • Other cases can be purchased from Lexis:Lexis Nexis A la Carte

    .

  • Ohio Supreme Court: Select source and year from the pulldown menu.

  • Findlaw - Ohio

Ohio Supreme Court:

• Printed opinions in various series of reporters found in law libraries and online in fee-based services.

• Web opinions: www.sconet.state.oh.us/

• Findlaw - Ohio

• Lexisone.com: Last five years of case law. Free but requires registration.

• Other cases can be purchased from Lexis:Lexis Nexis A la Carte

  .

Supreme Court of the United States:

• The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court for both the state and federal court case appeals. All Supreme Court opinions are available in printed series available in law libraries and online fee-based services. They are also available on the web at: www.supremecourtus.gov/

• straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html

• www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html from 1937.

The Trial Court is the Northern District of Ohio.

• Printed opinions (about 5% of the cases) appear in the Federal Supplement series of reports available in law libraries and online fee-based services.

• Web Opinions: Only notable cases at www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/

  Recent case dockets that may include opinions are available through a fee-based service called Pacer at www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/

  Copies of opinions can be requested directly from the Court through the Court’s home page.

The Federal Appellate Court for Ohio is the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee as well.

Printed opinions (about 50% of cases) are available in the Federal Reporter series, which is available in law libraries and online fee-based services.

Web opinions (since 1995) are available at www.ca6.uscourts.gov/internet/index.htm and www.law.emory.edu/6circuit/

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court for both the state and federal court case appeals. All Supreme Court opinions are available in printed series available in law libraries and online fee-based services. They are also available on the web at:

www.supremecourtus.gov/

straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html

www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html from 1937.

Created on: December 3, 2001 -