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

The Clerk’s Division oversees the filing of all case-related
documents and maintains all case files in matters pending
before the Supreme Court. In addition to managing the cases
filed, the clerk maintains case dockets, the Court’s journal and,
in pending cases, the trial and district appellate court records.
The clerk also prepares and issues Court orders, schedules
oral arguments and the Court’s consideration of other case
matters, and coordinates interagency communication in deathpenalty
cases. The Clerk’s Division also includes the Case
Mediation Section, which moved from the Legal Resources
Division in July 2008 to better coordinate caseflow and improve
communications and case tracking.
Office of the Clerk
The Office of the Clerk maintains and enforces the Rules of
Practice of the Supreme Court, recommending amendments
as appropriate to the Court. Deputy clerks and staff attorneys
provide assistance on procedural issues to attorneys, litigants
and the public through written communications, seminar
presentations, and telephone and office consultations. The
office also provides answers to frequently asked questions on
the Supreme Court Web site.
In 2008, the office led the division in a strategic-planning
initiative to develop goals and vision, mission and core value
statements. Goals included creating practice and procedure
guidelines for each position; increasing professional
development; developing a comprehensive records retention
process; revising reporting standards for case statistics and
accepting credit card payments.
Clerk’s Division
2008 staff
Valerie J. Cannell
Dave W. Coleman
Karen R. Fields
Kristina D. Frost
Helka C. Gienapp
Marcia C. Gipson
Sandra H. Grosko
Kimberly M. Hamiter
Thomas A. Imber
Joella Jones
Justin T. Kudela
Tiffany N. Morgan
Amy L. Reitz
Doris L. Roche
Amie K. Vetter
Nathan L. Wasson
William A. Zapp
Case Mediation Section
The Case Mediation Section conducts mediation for appellate
cases and original actions. Mediation is a settlement process in
which the mediation counsel meets informally with Supreme
Court litigants, encouraging them to develop workable
solutions away from the courtroom. The section brings parties
together in confidential negotiating sessions facilitated by the
mediation counsel, who monitors settlement solutions.
In 2008, the section reviewed 175 cases, focusing on state
and local tax cases, workers’ compensation matters and
extraordinary writs. The Court referred 85 of the cases to
mediation, and the section cleared 82 cases, 24 of which were
settled after one or more mediation conference. In all, the
section conducted 202 mediation conferences.
2008 Annual Report • The Supreme Court of Ohio 37