A Guide to Ohio Practice

This guide identifies both online and print resources that are useful to the attorney practicing law in Ohio. All print resources mentioned are available at Capital’s Law Library.   

• Court Information  

• Links to Ohio appellate, common pleas, and municipal court websites can be found on the Ohio Supreme Court’s website: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/web_sites/courts/ 

• The American Bench: Judges of the Nation (2010). KF8700 .A19A5. Law Reserve Room. Contains court information, maps, contact information, and biographies of judges for each of the fifty states.

• Court Rules  

• Annotated Rules Governing the Courts of Ohio. (1995-present.) KFO 529 .A2A5. Most recent version in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions are available on 4 th Floor. Three volumes: state, local, and federal.   

• Ohio Rules of Court. (2010). KFO 529 .A2W41. Law Reserve Room. Three volumes: federal, state, and local.

• Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio can be found at: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/practice/rulesofpractice.pdf 

• 1992 Interim Edition to the Ohio Manual of Citations is available at: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/MANCITEmain.pdf 

• Revisions to the Manuel of Citations (2002) is available at: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/Rev_Manual_Cit_02.pdf

• Attorney Directories  

• Ohio Legal Directory. (1997-present). Annual. KFO 192. O35O35. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions are available on the 3rd floor.

• OSBA Membership Directory. The latest directory may be found on the OSBA’s website (http://www.ohiobar.org/) under the “Member Resources” heading. Users must be members to access the directory.

• The Columbus Bar Association has a searchable directory online at: http://www.cbalaw.org/ 

• Cincinnati Bar Association has an online directory available to members at: http://www.cincybar.org/ 

• Statutes/Session Laws  

• Baldwin’s Ohio Revised Code Annotated. (1994-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO 30 1994 .A4B3. Law Stacks, 4th Floor. Superceded volumes are also available.

• Page’s Ohio Revised Code Annotated. (1953-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO30 1953 .A4P3. Law Stacks, 4th Floor. Superceded volumes are also available.

• Baldwin’s Ohio Legislative Service. (1971-present). KFO 15 .B34. Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Page’s Legislative Bulletin. (1985-present.) Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Lawriter’s Ohio Revised Code is available online at: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc. Unofficial; no annotations.

• Laws of Ohio. (1803-1998).  KFO25 .O35.  Law Stacks, 4 th Floor.

• Unofficial session laws from 1997-present are available at the Ohio General Assembly’s Website: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/Clerk/ecms/ .

• Legislative History  

• A Guide to Legislative History in Ohio: http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/membersonly/128legislativehistory.pdf. This guide gives an excellent explanation of the legislative history available in Ohio and the places where it can be found.

• The Legislative Service Commission has bill analyses, status reports of legislation, and fiscal notes from 1997-present: http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/ 

• The Legislative Service Commission provides a chart detailing what legislative information sources are available to the public. It provides phone numbers and links to websites (when available): http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/research/leginfo.html 

• Case Law/Briefs  

• Northeastern Reporter, 1st and 2nd series. (1885-present). Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Ohio Official Reports. (1965-present). Contains cases from the Ohio Supreme Court, appellate courts, and some trial level cases. Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Ohio State Reports, 1st and 2nd series. (1893-1982). Contains cases from the Ohio Supreme Court. NB: the Ohio State Reports 2d are also published in the Ohio Official Reports. Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Opinions of the Ohio Supreme Court, Ohio Appellate Courts, the Court of Claims, etc. from 1992-present are available at: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/newpdf/default.asp Briefs for cases are occasionally posted in PDF format, beginning in 2006.

• The Supreme Court of Ohio’s Online Docket: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/Clerk/ecms/.

• Administrative Code  

• An Overview of Administrative Rulemaking Procedure in Ohio. Written by the Legislative Service Commission, this paper outlines the process of creating administrative law from legislature to agency. It is available at: http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/membersonly/127rulemaking.pdf 

• Baldwin’s Ohio Administrative Code. (1994-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO 35 .A2A34 1994. Law Stacks, 4 th Floor. Superceded volumes are also available.

• Lawriter’s Ohio Administrative Code is available online at: http://codes.ohio.gov/oac. Unofficial; no annotations.

• Baldwin’s Ohio Monthly Record. (1989-present). KFO 35 .A4M6. Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• The Ohio Register has recent proposed and final rules available on its website: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/ 

• The Joint Committee Agency on Rule Review checks proposed and final rules to ensure that they comply with legislative standards: http://www.jcarr.state.oh.us/ 

• Attorney General Opinions  

• Opinions of the Attorney General of Ohio. Opinions range from 1846-present. KFO 427.5 .A8O3. Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Attorney General opinions from 1994-present are available at: http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Opinions 

• Encyclopedias and Digests  

• West’s Ohio Digest (2000-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO 57 .W4. Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Ohio Jurisprudence 3d. (1977-present). KFO 65 .O35. Updated by pocket parts. Law Stacks, 4th floor.

• Forms  

• Anderson’s Ohio Civil Practice: Pleading, Procedure, Forms. (1971-present). Looseleaf. KFO530 .A8 2005. Law Reserve Room.

• Ohio Civil Rules Practice, with Forms by John W. McCormac and Michael E. Solimine. (2003-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO530 .M3 2003. Law Reserve Room.

• Ohio Forms of Pleading and Practice by William W. Milligan. (1970-present). Looseleaf. KFO 530 .A65M5. Law stacks, 4th floor.

• Ohio Transaction Guide. (1975-present). Looseleaf. Law stacks, 4th floor.

• Couse’s Ohio Forms. (1984-present). Looseleaf. Law Reserve Room.

• Tax forms are available through the Ohio Department of Taxation: tax.ohio.gov 

• Various agency forms are available through Ohio’s official web portal, Ohio.gov: http://ohio.gov/forms.stm.

• Jury Instructions  

• Ohio Jury Instructions: A Collection of Standard Jury Instructions in Civil and Criminal cases. Jury Instructions Committee of the Ohio Judicial Conference. (1993-present). Looseleaf. KFO542.6 O35. Law Reserve Room.

• Treatises  

• Business  

• Ferriell Commercial Code. (1996). KFO 152 .F47 1996. Law Reserve Room.

• Ohio Securities Law and Practice. (1996-present). Looseleaf. KFO 179 .A6F741. Older version in Law Stacks, 4 th floor. Most recent version in the Law Reserve Room.

• Civil Procedure  

• Anderson’s Ohio Civil Practice: Pleading, Procedure, Forms.(1971-current). Looseleaf.  KFO 530 .A8. Multiple copies available. Law Stacks, 4 th Floor and Law Reserve Room.
• The Local Practice Handbook: Franklin County and Contiguous Counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union. (2006.)  KFO 508 .A19 G85. Law Stacks, 4th Floor. 
• Ohio Appellate Practice. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 555 A.4. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor. 
• Ohio Civil Practice, with Forms by William E. Knepper. (1970-present). Looseleaf.  KFO 530 .K55. Law Stacks, 4 th Floor.
• Ohio Civil Rules Practice, with Forms by John W. McCormac and Michael E. Solimine. (1970-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO530 .M3 2003.   Older versions in Law Stacks, 4 th Floor. Most recent version in Law Reserve Room.
• Ohio Forms of Pleading and Practice by William W. Milligan.(1970-present). Looseleaf. KFO 530 .A65M5. Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Criminal  

• Anderson’s Ohio Criminal Practice and Procedure.(1997-present). Annual.  KFO 561 .A95.  Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Anderson’s Ohio Manual of Criminal Complaints and Indictments. (1999-present). Annual. KFO 577 .A65O35. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Katz & Giannelli Criminal Law. (2003-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO 561 .K38. Law Reserve Room.  
• Katz & Giannelli Ohio Criminal Law and Rules. (2008-present). Annual. KFO 561 .A3. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Ohio Arrest, Search and Seizure. (2002-present.) Annual. KFO 576 .K3. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4 th floor.
• Ohio Felony Sentencing Law by Burt W. Griffin and Lewis R. Katz. (2002-2008). Annual. KFO 583.2 .O35. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Ohio Statutory Charges by Dennis G. Terez. (2003-present). Annual. KFO 561 .K38B53. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.

• Consumer 
• Ohio Consumer Law. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 230 .O35. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.

• Employment/Worker’s Compensation  
• Ohio Employment Practices Law. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 334 .O35. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Ohio Worker’s Compensation Law by Jo Ann F. Wasil, et al. (2004-present). Annual. KFO 342. W37. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Family and Juvenile Law  

• Anderson 's Ohio Family Law. (1989-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO 94 .A95. Law Stacks, 4 th Floor.  

• Ohio Domestic Violence Law. (2002-2008). Annual. KFO 567. F35O35. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4 th floor.

• Ohio Juvenile Law. (2001-present). Annual. KFO 595. K8. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4 th floor.

• Sowald Morgenstern Domestic Relations Law. (2002-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO 94. S69. Law Reserve Room.     

• Litigation 
  • Ohio Civil Procedure Litigation Manual. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 530 .A1W45. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
  • Rules of Evidence Handbook. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 540. Z9O3. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
  • Trial Handbook for Ohio Lawyers. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 538 .M37. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4 th floor.

• Municipal 
• Local Government Law—Municipal by John E. Gotherman et al. (2004-present). Updated by pocket parts. KFO 431 .A6C7. Law Reserve Room.
• Local Government Laws and Rules Annotated. (2004-present). Annual. KFO 432.5 .B32. Most recent version in Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.

• Probate  

• Merrick-Rippner Probate Law. (2001-2008). Updated by pocket parts and supplements. KFO 144 .M4. Law Reserve Room.
• Anderson's Ohio Probate Practice and Procedue. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 144 .A933. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• The Simple Will in Ohio. (1992-present). Annual. KFO 144 .M331. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 3rd floor.

• Real Estate  

• Ohio Landlord Tenant Law. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 117. W4. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Ohio Planning and Zoning Law. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 458. O355. Most recent version is in Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Ohio Real Estate Law by Kenton L. Kuehnle and Jack S. Levey. (2003-present). Updated with pocket parts. KFO 112 .K84 2003. Law Reserve Room.
• Ohio Residential Real Estate Manual. (2005-present). Annual. KFO 126 .W551. Law Stacks, 4th Floor. CD ROM available in Law Reserve Room.

• School  
• Anderson’s Ohio School Law Guide. (2001-present). Annual. KFO 390 .A6B3. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Ohio School Law. (2001-present). Updated by pocket parts and supplements. Law Reserve Room.
• Tax  

• Baldwin's Ohio Tax Law and Rules. (1973-present). Looseleaf.  KFO 470 .A6L33. Law Stacks, 4th Floor.

• Traffic  

• Anderson’s Ohio Traffic Code. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 297 .A3. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.
• Ohio DUI Law by Mark P. Painter and James M. Looker. (2002-present). Annual. KFO 297.8 P35. Most recent version is in the Law Reserve Room; prior versions available on the 4th floor.

• Transactions  

• Ohio Transaction Guide. (1975-present). Looseleaf. KFO68 .T7. Law stacks, 4th floor.