The Supreme Court of Ohio - Supreme Court - State of Ohio

compatible with additional platforms, applications and system
configurations. It is set for launch in early 2009.
In 2008, the Office of Public Information also:
• Hosted the annual Judges & Journalists Workshop, which
focused on issues of public access and privacy in the court
system.
• Designed and published more than 290 print publications
and materials.
• Provided design, event planning, photography and other
services for the Summit on Children.
• Wrote and mailed 258 written responses to constituent
letters and e-mails, a 60 percent increase over the 161 for
2007.
• Researched, wrote and distributed 312 previews of oral
arguments before the Court and summaries of merit
decisions.
• Fielded 727 media inquiries.
• Answered 17,701 phone calls to the Court’s main phone
lines.
Civic Education Section
The Civic Education Section was created in September 2008
through the consolidation of existing staff and operations to
provide education programs and outreach efforts for visitors
to the Ohio Judicial Center and the public at large. These
efforts include conducting tours of the building and the Visitor
Education Center, coordinating the Off-Site Court program,
providing assistance to the Judicial Family Network, working
with international visitor groups, organizing special events,
developing the Court’s art collection, and increasing the
Court’s historical resources.
During 2008, the Visitor Education Center conducted tours
for 13,154 visitors — a 27 percent increase over 2007. Eightytwo
percent of the visitors were students from third grade
through college. Seventeen volunteer guides donated 551¾
hours, which represents a market value of $10,765.
Further, detailed plans were developed in 2008 for a new
exhibit focusing on courts and science for the education
center. Tentatively titled, “Identity on Trial,” the exhibit will
highlight the intersection of courts and science. The purpose
is to illustrate how scientific advances over time have been
integrated into court proceedings and outcomes. The exhibit is
expected to open in the spring of 2009.
The Office of Public
Information hosted
nearly 100 participants for the
2008 Judges & Journalists
Workshop.
Advisory Committee
on the Judicial Family
Network
Ruth Ann Newcomer,
staff liaison
Larry Floyd
Maureen Grady
Tim Gorman
Susan Hany
Pam Harris
Debra Howard
Susie E. Ingraham
Maryanna Klatt
Robert Lanzinger
Mary Moyer
Shannon Nelson, chair
Vernon Pringle
Laurie Repp
Reuben Sheperd
Sherri Spencer
Janet Sunderman
Sue Wolaver
Tom Zitter
2008 Annual Report • The Supreme Court of Ohio
33
Clerk's division
Office of the Clerk
Case Mediation Section