Ohio Constitution Article IV - Judicial
Ohio Constitution – Article IV: Judicial
Article IV of the Ohio Constitution establishes the Judicial Branch of the state government. It outlines the structure, powers, and responsibilities of Ohio's courts and judiciary.
Key Sections & Provisions of Article IV:
Section 1: Judicial Power
The judicial power of the state is vested in a Supreme Court, courts of appeals, courts of common pleas, and other courts established by law.
Section 2: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Justices.
It has original jurisdiction in certain types of cases (e.g., writs) and appellate jurisdiction in cases from lower courts.
The Supreme Court is the court of last resort in Ohio.
Section 3: Courts of Appeals
Courts of appeals serve as intermediate appellate courts.
They have jurisdiction to review judgments of lower courts.
Each appellate district includes a panel of judges as defined by law.
Section 4: Common Pleas Courts
Each county has a court of common pleas.
These courts handle civil and criminal cases and are courts of general jurisdiction.
Section 5: Judges and Terms
Judges are elected by the people.
Terms vary by court level (e.g., Supreme Court justices serve six-year terms).
The section also sets rules for eligibility, vacancies, and compensation.
Section 6: Retirement and Discipline
Judges must retire at age 70, though they may serve out their term if they reach that age while in office.
This section also allows for discipline, suspension, or removal of judges for misconduct or incapacity.
Section 7: Rules of Court
The Supreme Court is responsible for adopting rules of practice and procedure, including rules for all courts and judges.
Section 8: Removal or Suspension of Judges
Judges may be removed or suspended by a commission composed of judges, as provided by law, for specified reasons like misconduct or incompetency.
RELATED Blog
0 comments