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Sub. H. B. No. 159As Passed by the SenateAs Passed by the Senate
125th General Assembly | Regular Session | 2003-2004 |
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REPRESENTATIVES Hagan, Oelslager, Seitz, Schaffer, J. Stewart, Callender, Latta, Young, Cirelli, Willamowski, Grendell, DePiero, Boccieri, Carmichael, Domenick, Fessler, Harwood, Hughes, McGregor, T. Patton
SENATOR Schuring
A BILL
To amend sections 1901.31 and 2501.011 of the Revised Code to add one additional judge for the Fifth District Court of Appeals, to create the separate office of clerk of the Clermont County Municipal Court, to amend the version of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2004, to continue the provisions of this act on and after that effective date, and to declare an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 1901.31 and 2501.011 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1901.31. The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal
court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have
powers and duties as follows: (A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed
or
elected as follows: (1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga
Falls,
Medina, Toledo, Clermont
county,
Hamilton
county, Portage county,
and Wayne county municipal courts, if the
population of the
territory equals or exceeds one hundred
thousand at the regular
municipal election immediately preceding the
expiration of the
term of the present clerk, the clerk shall be
nominated and
elected by the qualified electors of the territory
in the manner
that is provided for the nomination and election of
judges in
section 1901.07 of the Revised Code. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six
years, which term shall commence on the first day of January
following the
clerk's election and continue until the clerk's
successor is elected
and qualified. (b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of
courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal
court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the
compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in
semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners
prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as
the
clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the
duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth
the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common
pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of
the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the
county
treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to
the
annual compensation that is received for the performance of
the
duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided
in
sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. (c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal
courts,
the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county
shall be
the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and
Wayne county
municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy
clerk for each
branch that is established pursuant to section
1901.311 of the
Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges
of the municipal
court determine are necessary, all of whom shall
receive the
compensation that the legislative authority
prescribes. The
clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne
county, acting as the
clerks of the Portage county and Wayne
county municipal courts and
assuming the duties of these offices,
shall receive compensation
payable from the county treasury in semimonthly
installments at
one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of
courts of
common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of
the
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18
of the Revised
Code. (d) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(d) of
this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated
by
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the
day
specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the
nomination
of municipal officers. Notwithstanding section
3513.257 of the
Revised Code, the nominating petitions of
independent candidates
shall be signed by at least two hundred
fifty qualified electors
of the territory of the court. The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of
the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07
or
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy
and
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the
Revised Code. If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed
by
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular
political
party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron
municipal
court, a primary election shall not be held for the
purpose of
nominating a candidate of that party for election to
that office.
If only one person files a valid declaration of
candidacy and
petition for nomination as a candidate of a
particular political
party for election to that office, a primary
election shall not be
held for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of that party for
election to that office, and the
candidate shall be issued a
certificate of nomination in the
manner set forth in section
3513.02 of the Revised Code. Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk
of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the
term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall
be
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the
court
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the
Revised
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The
clerk so
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which
term
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and
qualified. (e) In the Clermont county municipal court, the clerk of
courts of Clermont county shall be the clerk of the municipal
court. The clerk of courts of Clermont county, acting as the
clerk of the Clermont county municipal court and assuming the
duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth
the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common
pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of
the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the
county
treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to
the
annual compensation that is received for the performance of
the
duties of the clerk of courts of Clermont county, as provided
in
sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. (f) Irrespective of the population of the territory of the
Medina municipal court, the clerk of that court shall be appointed
pursuant to division (A)(2)(a) of this section by the
judges of
that court, shall hold office until the clerk's successor is
similarly appointed and qualified, and shall receive pursuant to
division
(C) of this section the annual compensation that the
legislative
authority prescribes and that is payable in
semimonthly installments from the
same sources and in the same
manner as provided in section 1901.11 of the
Revised Code.
(g)(f) Except as otherwise provided in division
(A)(1)(g)(f) of
this
section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for
election
to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by
primary
election. The primary election shall be held on the day
specified
in the charter of the city of Barberton for the
nomination of
municipal officers. Notwithstanding section
3513.257 of the
Revised Code, the nominating petitions of
independent
candidates shall be signed by at least two hundred
fifty qualified
electors of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not
later than
four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of
the primary
election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or
3513.261 of
the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or the nominating petition, shall conform to the
applicable requirements of
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the
Revised Code. If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by
any
person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political
party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the
purpose of
nominating a candidate
of that party for election to
that office. If only one person files a valid
declaration of
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a
particular political party for election to that office, a primary
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code. Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating
petitions, and
certificates of nomination for the office of clerk
of the
Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of
the term
for which the candidate seeks election. At the following
regular municipal
election, all
candidates for the office shall be
submitted to the qualified electors of the
territory of the
court
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the
Revised
Code for the election of the judges of the court.
The clerk so
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which
term
shall commence on the first day of January following the
clerk's
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and
qualified. (h)(g) Except as otherwise provided in division
(A)(1)(h)(g) of
this
section, in the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, candidates
for
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be
nominated by primary
election. The primary election shall be held
on the day specified in the
charter of the city of Cuyahoga Falls
for the nomination of
municipal officers. Notwithstanding section
3513.257 of the
Revised Code, the nominating petitions of
independent
candidates shall be signed by at least two hundred
fifty qualified
electors of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not
later than
four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of
the primary
election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or
3513.261 of
the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and
petition, or
the nominating petition,
shall conform to the
applicable requirements of section
3513.05 or 3513.257 of the
Revised Code. If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by
any
person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political
party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga
Falls
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the
purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to
that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a
particular political party for election to that office, a primary
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code. Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating
petitions, and
certificates of nomination for the office of clerk
of the Cuyahoga
Falls municipal court shall contain a designation
of the term for
which the candidate seeks election. At the
following regular municipal
election, all candidates for the
office shall be submitted to the
qualified electors of the
territory of the court in the manner
that is provided in section
1901.07 of the Revised Code for
the
election of the judges of the
court. The clerk so elected shall hold office
for
a term of six
years, which term shall commence on the first day of
January
following the clerk's election and continue until the
clerk's
successor is elected and qualified. (i)(h) Except as otherwise provided in division
(A)(1)(i)(h) of
this
section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for
election
to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by
primary
election. The primary election shall be held on the day
specified
in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination
of
municipal officers. Notwithstanding section 3513.257 of the
Revised Code, the nominating petitions of independent
candidates
shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty qualified
electors
of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not
later than
four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of
the primary
election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or
3513.261 of
the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or the nominating petition, shall conform to the
applicable requirements of
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the
Revised Code. If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by
any
person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political
party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal
court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of
nominating a candidate
of that party for election to that office.
If only one person files a valid
declaration of
candidacy and
petition for nomination as a candidate of a
particular political
party for election to that office, a primary
election shall not be
held for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of that party for
election to that office, and the
candidate shall be issued a
certificate of nomination in the
manner set forth in section
3513.02 of the Revised Code. Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating
petitions, and
certificates of nomination for the office of clerk
of the
Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the
term
for which the candidate seeks election. At the following
regular municipal
election, all
candidates for the office shall be
submitted to the qualified electors of the
territory of the
court
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the
Revised
Code for the election of the judges of the court.
The clerk so
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which
term
shall commence on the first day of January following the
clerk's
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and
qualified. (2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county,
Brown
county, Columbiana county, Lorain,
Massillon, and Youngstown
municipal courts, in a municipal court
for which the population of
the territory is less than one hundred thousand and in the Medina
municipal court, the clerk shall
be appointed by the court, and
the clerk shall hold office until
the clerk's successor is
appointed and qualified. (b) In the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown
municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office
as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section. (c) In the Auglaize county
and Brown county
municipal
courts, the
clerks of
courts of Auglaize
county
and Brown
county
shall be the
clerks,
respectively, of the
Auglaize
county and
Brown county municipal
courts and may appoint a
chief deputy
clerk
for each branch that
is established pursuant to
section
1901.311
of the Revised Code,
and assistant clerks as the
judge of
the
court determines are
necessary, all of whom shall
receive the
compensation that the
legislative authority
prescribes. The
clerks of courts of
Auglaize county
and
Brown county, acting as
the
clerks of the Auglaize county
and Brown
county
municipal
courts and assuming the
duties of
these offices,
shall
receive compensation
payable from
the
county treasury in
semimonthly
installments at
one-fourth the
rate
that is prescribed
for the clerks of
courts of
common pleas
as
determined in
accordance with the population of
the
county and
the
rates set
forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18
of the Revised
Code. (d) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of
courts of
Columbiana county shall be the
clerk of the municipal
court, may appoint a chief deputy
clerk for each branch office
that is established pursuant to section
1901.311 of the Revised
Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that
the judges of the
court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy
clerks and
assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the
legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of
Columbiana county, acting as
the clerk of the Columbiana
county
municipal court and assuming the duties of that office,
shall
receive compensation payable from the county treasury in
semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is
prescribed
for the clerks of courts of common pleas as
determined in
accordance with the population of the county and
the rates set
forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the
Revised Code. (3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to
illness, vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a
temporary clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation,
have
the
same authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk. (B) Except in the Clermont county, Hamilton county,
Medina,
Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if a vacancy
occurs in the office of the clerk of the Alliance, Lorain,
Massillon, or Youngstown municipal court or occurs in the office
of the clerk of a municipal court for which the population of the
territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand because the
clerk
ceases to hold the office before the end of the clerk's term or
because a clerk-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be
filled, until a successor is elected and qualified, by a person
chosen by the residents of the territory of the court who are
members of the county central committee of the political party by
which the last occupant of that office or the clerk-elect was
nominated. Not less than five nor more than fifteen days after a
vacancy occurs, those members of that county central committee
shall meet to make an appointment to fill the vacancy. At least
four days before the date of the meeting, the chairperson or a
secretary of the county central committee shall notify each such
member of that county central committee by first class
mail of the
date, time, and place
of the meeting and its purpose. A majority
of all such members of
that county central committee constitutes a
quorum, and a
majority of the quorum is
required to make the
appointment. If the office so vacated was
occupied or was to be
occupied by a person not nominated at a
primary election, or if
the appointment was not made by the
committee members in
accordance with this division, the court
shall make an appointment
to fill the vacancy. A successor shall
be elected to fill the
office for the unexpired term at the first
municipal election that
is held more than one hundred twenty days
after the vacancy
occurred. (C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county,
the Brown county,
the Columbiana county, and
the Lorain municipal
courts,
for which the population of the
territory is
less than one
hundred thousand and in the Medina
municipal
court, the clerk of
the municipal court
shall receive
the annual compensation that the
presiding judge of the court
prescribes, if the revenue of the
court for the preceding calendar
year, as
certified by the auditor
or chief fiscal officer of the
municipal corporation
in which the
court is located or, in the
case of a county-operated municipal
court, the county auditor, is
equal to or greater than the
expenditures,
including any debt
charges, for the operation of the
court payable under this
chapter
from the city treasury or, in the
case of a county-operated
municipal
court, the county treasury for
that calendar year, as
also certified by the
auditor or chief
fiscal officer. If the
revenue of a municipal court, other
than
the
Auglaize county,
the
Brown county, the Columbiana county, and
the
Lorain municipal courts, for which
the population of the
territory
is less than one hundred thousand or the
revenue of the
Medina
municipal court for the preceding calendar year
as so
certified is
not equal to or greater than those expenditures for
the
operation
of the court for that calendar year as so certified,
the clerk of
a
municipal court shall receive the annual
compensation that the
legislative
authority prescribes.
As used
in this division,
"revenue" means
the total of all costs and fees
that are collected
and paid to the city
treasury or, in a
county-operated municipal
court, the county treasury by the
clerk
of the municipal court
under division (F) of this section and
all
interest received and
paid to the city treasury or, in a
county-operated
municipal
court, the county treasury in relation
to the costs and fees under
division (G) of this section. (2) In
a municipal court, other than the
Clermont county,
Hamilton county, Medina, Portage
county, and Wayne
county
municipal courts, for which the population of the territory
is one
hundred thousand or more, and in the Lorain
municipal court, the
clerk of the municipal court
shall receive annual compensation in
a sum equal to eighty-five
per cent of the salary of a judge of
the court.
(3) The compensation
of a clerk described in division (C)(1)
or (2) of this
section is payable in semimonthly installments from
the same sources and
in the same manner as provided in section
1901.11 of the Revised
Code. (D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office,
the
clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than
six
thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court,
conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties. (E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the
following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue
executions upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a
judgment for unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of
the
court to all writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing
out of
the court; and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances,
and
undertakings fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk
may
refuse to accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted
for filing by a
person who has been found to be a vexatious
litigator under section 2323.52
of the Revised Code and who has
failed to obtain leave to proceed under that
section. The clerk
shall do all of the following: file and safely keep all
journals,
records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to
the court;
record the proceedings of the court; perform all other
duties that
the judges of the court may prescribe; and keep a
book showing all
receipts and disbursements, which book shall be
open for public
inspection at all times. The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a
docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all
of which shall be the public records of the court. In the
docket,
the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of
an
action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the
counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates,
the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of
summons or
other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings.
The clerk
also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders,
judgments, and
proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the
relief granted
or orders made in each action. The court may order
an extended
record of any of the above to be made and entered,
under the
proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of
any
party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as
costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party
demanding the record, upon order of the court. (F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect,
and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other
moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The
clerk
shall each month disburse to the proper persons or officers,
and
take receipts for, all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other
moneys
that the clerk collects. Subject to sections 3375.50 and
4511.193
of
the Revised Code and to any other section of the
Revised Code
that requires a specific manner of disbursement of
any moneys
received by a municipal court and except for the
Hamilton county,
Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal
courts, the clerk shall pay all
fines received for violation of
municipal ordinances into the
treasury of the municipal
corporation the ordinance of which was
violated and shall pay all
fines received for violation of
township resolutions adopted
pursuant to Chapter 504. of the
Revised Code into the treasury of
the township the resolution of
which was violated. Subject to
sections 1901.024 and 4511.193 of
the Revised Code, in the
Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county
municipal
courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent of the fines
received
for violation of municipal ordinances and fifty per cent
of the
fines received for violation of township resolutions
adopted
pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the
treasury of
the county. Subject to sections 3375.50, 3375.53,
4511.99, and
5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section
of the
Revised Code that requires a specific manner of
disbursement of
any moneys received by a municipal court, the
clerk shall pay all
fines collected for the violation of state
laws into the county
treasury. Except in a county-operated
municipal court, the clerk
shall pay all costs and fees the
disbursement of which is not
otherwise provided for in the
Revised Code into the city treasury.
The clerk of a
county-operated municipal court shall pay the costs
and fees the
disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for
in the
Revised Code into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as
security for costs shall be retained pending the litigation. The
clerk shall keep a separate account of all receipts and
disbursements in civil and criminal cases, which shall be a
permanent public record of the office. On the expiration of the
term of the clerk, the clerk shall deliver the records to the
clerk's
successor. The clerk shall have other powers and duties
as are prescribed by
rule or order of the court. (G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted
on
the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be
deposited in a state or national bank, or a domestic savings and
loan association, as defined in section 1151.01 of the Revised
Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon
the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in
a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid
into
the treasury of the county in which the court is located. On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk
shall
make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that
were
finally determined more than one year past in which there
remains
unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or
any part of
a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the
costs in the
case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to
the parties
who are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys
of record.
All the moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day
of April of
each year shall be paid by the clerk to the city
treasurer, except
that, in a county-operated municipal court, the
moneys shall be
paid to the treasurer of the county in which the
court is located.
The treasurer shall pay any part of the
moneys at any time to the
person who has the right to the
moneys upon proper certification
of the clerk. (H) Deputy clerks may be appointed by the clerk and shall
receive the compensation, payable in semimonthly installments out
of the city treasury, that the clerk may prescribe, except that
the compensation of any deputy clerk of a county-operated
municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury of the county
in
which the court is located. Each deputy clerk shall take an
oath
of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's
office
and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining
to the
office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the
deputy
clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand
dollars,
conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy
clerk's duties. (I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the
population of the territory of a municipal court falls below one
hundred thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the
population
of the territory prior to the most recent regular
federal census
exceeded one hundred thousand, the legislative
authority of the
municipal corporation may declare, by
resolution, that the
territory shall be considered to have a
population of at least one
hundred thousand. (J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at
all sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in
the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors
and receive verdicts.
Sec. 2501.011. (A)
Except as otherwise provided in this
division, there
There shall be
two
three additional judges
of the court of appeals of the fifth district, composed of
Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Guernsey, Holmes, Knox,
Licking, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Richland, Stark, and
Tuscarawas counties.
From February 11, 2001, through
February 10, 2007, there shall be three additional judges of the
court of appeals of the fifth district. One of the additional judges of the fifth district court of
appeals shall be elected at the general election in 1980 for a
term of six years beginning February 10, 1981. One of the
additional judges of the fifth district court of appeals shall be
elected at the general election in 1982 for a term of six years
beginning February 10, 1983. One of the additional judges of the fifth
district court of appeals shall be elected at the general election in 2000 for
a term of six years beginning February 11, 2001.
The
two additional judges
whose terms begin on February
10 shall
thereafter be elected to hold terms of six years. In the fifth district, any three judges shall comprise the
court of appeals in the hearing and disposition of cases in
accordance with any local rules of practice and procedure that
may be adopted by the judges of the court. (B) There shall be two additional judges of the court of
appeals of the sixth district, composed of Erie, Fulton, Huron,
Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties. One of the additional judges of the sixth district court of
appeals shall be elected at the general election in 1980 for a
term of six years beginning February 10, 1981. One of the
additional judges of the sixth district court of appeals shall be
elected at the general election in 1990 for a term of six years
beginning on February 10, 1991. The additional judges shall
thereafter be elected to hold terms of six years. In the sixth district, any three judges shall comprise the
court of appeals in the hearing and disposition of cases in
accordance with any l local rules of practice and procedure that
may be adopted by the judges of the court. (C) There shall be one additional judge of the court of appeals of the
seventh
district, composed of Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana,
Harrison, Jefferson, Mahoning, Monroe, and
Noble counties. The additional judge shall be elected at the general election in 1996 for a
term of six years beginning February 10, 1997. The additional judge
thereafter shall be elected to hold terms of six years. In the seventh district, any three judges shall comprise the court of
appeals in the hearing and disposition of cases in accordance with any local
rules of practice and procedure that may be adopted by the judges of the
court. (D) The judges provided for in this section and sections
2501.012 and 2501.013 of the Revised Code shall exercise the same
powers and jurisdiction and perform the same duties as the judges
of the courts of appeals; and shall receive the same
compensation, as provided by law, for the judges of the courts of
appeals.
Section 2. That existing sections 1901.31 and 2501.011 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
Section 3. That the version of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2004, be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1901.31. The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal
court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have
powers and duties as follows: (A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed
or
elected as follows: (1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga
Falls,
Medina, Toledo, Clermont
county,
Hamilton
county, Portage county,
and Wayne county municipal courts, if the
population of the
territory equals or exceeds one hundred
thousand at the regular
municipal election immediately preceding the
expiration of the
term of the present clerk, the clerk shall be
nominated and
elected by the qualified electors of the territory
in the manner
that is provided for the nomination and election of
judges in
section 1901.07 of the Revised Code. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six
years, which term shall commence on the first day of January
following the
clerk's election and continue until the clerk's
successor is elected
and qualified. (b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of
courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal
court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the
compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in
semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners
prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as
the
clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the
duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth
the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common
pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of
the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the
county
treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to
the
annual compensation that is received for the performance of
the
duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided
in
sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. (c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal
courts,
the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county
shall be
the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and
Wayne county
municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy
clerk for each
branch that is established pursuant to section
1901.311 of the
Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges
of the municipal
court determine are necessary, all of whom shall
receive the
compensation that the legislative authority
prescribes. The
clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne
county, acting as the
clerks of the Portage county and Wayne
county municipal courts and
assuming the duties of these offices,
shall receive compensation
payable from the county treasury in semimonthly
installments at
one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of
courts of
common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of
the
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18
of the Revised
Code. (d) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(d) of
this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated
by
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the
day
specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the
nomination
of municipal officers. Notwithstanding section
3513.257 of the
Revised Code, the nominating petitions of
independent candidates
shall be signed by at least two hundred
fifty qualified electors
of the territory of the court. The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not
later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of
the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07
or
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy
and
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the
Revised Code. If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed
by
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular
political
party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron
municipal
court, a primary election shall not be held for the
purpose of
nominating a candidate of that party for election to
that office.
If only one person files a valid declaration of
candidacy and
petition for nomination as a candidate of a
particular political
party for election to that office, a primary
election shall not be
held for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of that party for
election to that office, and the
candidate shall be issued a
certificate of nomination in the
manner set forth in section
3513.02 of the Revised Code. Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk
of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the
term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall
be
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the
court
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the
Revised
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The
clerk so
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which
term
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and
qualified. (e) In the Clermont county municipal court, the clerk of
courts of Clermont county shall be the clerk of the municipal
court. The clerk of courts of Clermont county, acting as the
clerk of the Clermont county municipal court and assuming the
duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth
the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common
pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of
the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the
county
treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to
the
annual compensation that is received for the performance of
the
duties of the clerk of courts of Clermont county, as provided
in
sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. (f) Irrespective of the population of the territory of the
Medina municipal court, the clerk of that court shall be appointed
pursuant to division (A)(2)(a) of this section by the
judges of
that court, shall hold office until the clerk's successor is
similarly appointed and qualified, and shall receive pursuant to
division
(C) of this section the annual compensation that the
legislative
authority prescribes and that is payable in
semimonthly installments from the
same sources and in the same
manner as provided in section 1901.11 of the
Revised Code.
(g)(f) Except as otherwise provided in division
(A)(1)(g)(f) of
this
section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for
election
to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by
primary
election. The primary election shall be held on the day
specified
in the charter of the city of Barberton for the
nomination of
municipal officers. Notwithstanding section
3513.257 of the
Revised Code, the nominating petitions of
independent
candidates shall be signed by at least two hundred
fifty qualified
electors of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not
later than
four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of
the primary
election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or
3513.261 of
the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or the nominating petition, shall conform to the
applicable requirements of
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the
Revised Code. If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by
any
person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political
party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the
purpose of
nominating a candidate
of that party for election to
that office. If only one person files a valid
declaration of
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a
particular political party for election to that office, a primary
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code. Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating
petitions, and
certificates of nomination for the office of clerk
of the
Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of
the term
for which the candidate seeks election. At the following
regular municipal
election, all
candidates for the office shall be
submitted to the qualified electors of the
territory of the
court
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the
Revised
Code for the election of the judges of the court.
The clerk so
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which
term
shall commence on the first day of January following the
clerk's
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and
qualified. (h)(g) Except as otherwise provided in division
(A)(1)(h)(g) of
this
section, in the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, candidates
for
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be
nominated by primary
election. The primary election shall be held
on the day specified in the
charter of the city of Cuyahoga Falls
for the nomination of
municipal officers. Notwithstanding section
3513.257 of the
Revised Code, the nominating petitions of
independent
candidates shall be signed by at least two hundred
fifty qualified
electors of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not
later than
four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of
the primary
election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or
3513.261 of
the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and
petition, or
the nominating petition,
shall conform to the
applicable requirements of section
3513.05 or 3513.257 of the
Revised Code. If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by
any
person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political
party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga
Falls
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the
purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to
that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a
particular political party for election to that office, a primary
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code. Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating
petitions, and
certificates of nomination for the office of clerk
of the Cuyahoga
Falls municipal court shall contain a designation
of the term for
which the candidate seeks election. At the
following regular municipal
election, all candidates for the
office shall be submitted to the
qualified electors of the
territory of the court in the manner
that is provided in section
1901.07 of the Revised Code for
the
election of the judges of the
court. The clerk so elected shall hold office
for
a term of six
years, which term shall commence on the first day of
January
following the clerk's election and continue until the
clerk's
successor is elected and qualified. (i)(h) Except as otherwise provided in division
(A)(1)(i)(h) of
this
section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for
election
to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by
primary
election. The primary election shall be held on the day
specified
in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination
of
municipal officers. Notwithstanding section 3513.257 of the
Revised Code, the nominating petitions of independent
candidates
shall be signed by at least two hundred fifty qualified
electors
of the territory of the court.
The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not
later than
four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of
the primary
election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or
3513.261 of
the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and
petition,
or the nominating petition, shall conform to the
applicable requirements of
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the
Revised Code. If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by
any
person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political
party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal
court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of
nominating a candidate
of that party for election to that office.
If only one person files a valid
declaration of
candidacy and
petition for nomination as a candidate of a
particular political
party for election to that office, a primary
election shall not be
held for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of that party for
election to that office, and the
candidate shall be issued a
certificate of nomination in the
manner set forth in section
3513.02 of the Revised Code. Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating
petitions, and
certificates of nomination for the office of clerk
of the
Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the
term
for which the candidate seeks election. At the following
regular municipal
election, all
candidates for the office shall be
submitted to the qualified electors of the
territory of the
court
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the
Revised
Code for the election of the judges of the court.
The clerk so
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which
term
shall commence on the first day of January following the
clerk's
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and
qualified. (2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county,
Brown
county, Columbiana
county, Lorain,
Massillon, and Youngstown
municipal courts, in a
municipal court
for which the population of
the territory is less
than one hundred thousand and in the Medina
municipal court, the
clerk shall
be appointed by the court, and
the clerk shall hold
office until
the clerk's successor is
appointed and qualified. (b) In the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown
municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office
as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section. (c) In the Auglaize county
and Brown county
municipal
courts, the
clerks of
courts of Auglaize
county
and Brown
county shall be the
clerks,
respectively, of the
Auglaize
county and Brown county municipal
courts and may appoint a
chief deputy clerk
for each branch that
is
established pursuant to
section 1901.311
of the Revised Code,
and
assistant clerks as the
judge of the
court determines are
necessary, all of whom shall
receive the
compensation that the
legislative authority
prescribes. The
clerks of courts of
Auglaize
county
and
Brown county, acting as the
clerks of the Auglaize county
and Brown
county
municipal
courts
and assuming the
duties of
these offices, shall
receive compensation
payable from
the county treasury in semimonthly
installments at
one-fourth the
rate that is prescribed for the clerks of
courts of
common pleas
as determined in accordance with the population of
the
county and
the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18
of the Revised
Code. (d) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of
courts of
Columbiana county shall be the
clerk of the municipal
court, may appoint a chief deputy
clerk for each branch office
that is established pursuant to section
1901.311 of the Revised
Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that
the judges of the
court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy
clerks and
assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the
legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of
Columbiana county, acting as
the clerk of the Columbiana
county
municipal court and assuming the duties of that office,
shall
receive compensation payable from the county treasury in
semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is
prescribed
for the clerks of courts of common pleas as
determined in
accordance with the population of the county and
the rates set
forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the
Revised Code. (3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to
illness, vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a
temporary clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation,
have
the
same authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk. (B) Except in the Clermont county, Hamilton county,
Medina,
Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if a vacancy
occurs in the office of the clerk of the Alliance, Lorain,
Massillon, or Youngstown municipal court or occurs in the office
of the clerk of a municipal court for which the population of the
territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand because the
clerk
ceases to hold the office before the end of the clerk's term or
because a clerk-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be
filled, until a successor is elected and qualified, by a person
chosen by the residents of the territory of the court who are
members of the county central committee of the political party by
which the last occupant of that office or the clerk-elect was
nominated. Not less than five nor more than fifteen days after a
vacancy occurs, those members of that county central committee
shall meet to make an appointment to fill the vacancy. At least
four days before the date of the meeting, the chairperson or a
secretary of the county central committee shall notify each such
member of that county central committee by first class
mail of the
date, time, and place
of the meeting and its purpose. A majority
of all such members of
that county central committee constitutes a
quorum, and a
majority of the quorum is
required to make the
appointment. If the office so vacated was
occupied or was to be
occupied by a person not nominated at a
primary election, or if
the appointment was not made by the
committee members in
accordance with this division, the court
shall make an appointment
to fill the vacancy. A successor shall
be elected to fill the
office for the unexpired term at the first
municipal election that
is held more than one hundred twenty days
after the vacancy
occurred. (C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county,
the Brown county,
the Columbiana county, and
the Lorain municipal
courts,
for which
the population of the
territory is
less than one
hundred thousand
and in the Medina
municipal
court, the clerk of
the municipal
court
shall receive
the annual compensation that the
presiding
judge of the court
prescribes, if the revenue of the
court for the
preceding calendar
year, as
certified by the auditor
or chief
fiscal officer of the
municipal corporation
in which the
court is
located or, in the
case of a county-operated municipal
court, the
county auditor, is
equal to or greater than the
expenditures,
including any debt
charges, for the operation of the
court payable
under this
chapter
from the city treasury or, in the
case of a
county-operated
municipal
court, the county treasury for
that
calendar year, as
also certified by the
auditor or chief
fiscal
officer. If the
revenue of a municipal court, other
than
the
Auglaize county,
the
Brown county, the Columbiana county, and
the
Lorain municipal
courts, for which
the population of the
territory
is less than one
hundred thousand or the
revenue of the
Medina
municipal court for
the preceding calendar year
as so
certified is
not equal to or
greater than those expenditures for
the
operation
of the court for
that calendar year as so certified,
the clerk of
a
municipal court
shall receive the annual
compensation that the
legislative
authority prescribes.
As used
in this division,
"revenue" means
the total of all costs and fees
that are collected
and paid to the
city
treasury or, in a
county-operated municipal
court, the county
treasury by the
clerk
of the municipal court
under division (F) of
this section and
all
interest received and
paid to the city
treasury or, in a
county-operated
municipal
court, the county
treasury in relation
to the costs and fees under
division (G) of
this section. (2) In
a municipal court, other than the
Clermont county,
Hamilton county, Medina, Portage
county, and Wayne
county
municipal courts, for which the population of the territory
is one
hundred thousand or more, and in the Lorain
municipal court, the
clerk of the municipal court
shall receive annual compensation in
a sum equal to eighty-five
per cent of the salary of a judge of
the court.
(3) The compensation
of a clerk described in division (C)(1)
or (2) of this
section is payable in semimonthly installments from
the same sources and
in the same manner as provided in section
1901.11 of the Revised
Code. (D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office,
the
clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than
six
thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court,
conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties. (E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the
following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue
executions upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a
judgment for unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of
the
court to all writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing
out of
the court; and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances,
and
undertakings fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk
may
refuse to accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted
for filing by a
person who has been found to be a vexatious
litigator under section 2323.52
of the Revised Code and who has
failed to obtain leave to proceed under that
section. The clerk
shall do all of the following: file and safely keep all
journals,
records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to
the court;
record the proceedings of the court; perform all other
duties that
the judges of the court may prescribe; and keep a
book showing all
receipts and disbursements, which book shall be
open for public
inspection at all times. The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a
docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all
of which shall be the public records of the court. In the
docket,
the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of
an
action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the
counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates,
the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of
summons or
other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings.
The clerk
also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders,
judgments, and
proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the
relief granted
or orders made in each action. The court may order
an extended
record of any of the above to be made and entered,
under the
proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of
any
party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as
costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party
demanding the record, upon order of the court. (F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect,
and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other
moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The
clerk
shall each month disburse to the proper persons or officers,
and
take receipts for, all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other
moneys
that the clerk collects. Subject to sections 3375.50 and
4511.193
of
the Revised Code and to any other section of the
Revised Code
that requires a specific manner of disbursement of
any moneys
received by a municipal court and except for the
Hamilton county,
Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal
courts, the clerk shall pay all
fines received for violation of
municipal ordinances into the
treasury of the municipal
corporation the ordinance of which was
violated and shall pay all
fines received for violation of
township resolutions adopted
pursuant to Chapter 504. of the
Revised Code into the treasury of
the township the resolution of
which was violated. Subject to
sections 1901.024 and 4511.193 of
the Revised Code, in the
Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county
municipal
courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent of the fines
received
for violation of municipal ordinances and fifty per cent
of the
fines received for violation of township resolutions
adopted
pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the
treasury of
the county. Subject to sections 3375.50, 3375.53,
4511.19, and
5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section
of the
Revised Code that requires a specific manner of
disbursement of
any moneys received by a municipal court, the
clerk shall pay all
fines collected for the violation of state
laws into the county
treasury. Except in a county-operated
municipal court, the clerk
shall pay all costs and fees the
disbursement of which is not
otherwise provided for in the
Revised
Code into the city treasury.
The clerk of a
county-operated
municipal court shall pay the costs
and fees the
disbursement of
which is not otherwise provided for
in the
Revised Code into the
county treasury. Moneys deposited as
security for costs shall be
retained pending the litigation. The
clerk shall keep a separate
account of all receipts and
disbursements in civil and criminal
cases, which shall be a
permanent public record of the office. On
the expiration of the
term of the clerk, the clerk shall deliver
the records to the
clerk's
successor. The clerk shall have other
powers and duties
as are prescribed by
rule or order of the court. (G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted
on
the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be
deposited in a state or national bank, or a domestic savings and
loan association, as defined in section 1151.01 of the Revised
Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon
the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in
a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid
into
the treasury of the county in which the court is located. On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk
shall
make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that
were
finally determined more than one year past in which there
remains
unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or
any part of
a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the
costs in the
case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to
the parties
who are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys
of record.
All the moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day
of April of
each year shall be paid by the clerk to the city
treasurer, except
that, in a county-operated municipal court, the
moneys shall be
paid to the treasurer of the county in which the
court is located.
The treasurer shall pay any part of the
moneys at any time to the
person who has the right to the
moneys upon proper certification
of the clerk. (H) Deputy clerks may be appointed by the clerk and shall
receive the compensation, payable in semimonthly installments out
of the city treasury, that the clerk may prescribe, except that
the compensation of any deputy clerk of a county-operated
municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury of the county
in
which the court is located. Each deputy clerk shall take an
oath
of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's
office
and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining
to the
office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the
deputy
clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand
dollars,
conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy
clerk's duties. (I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the
population of the territory of a municipal court falls below one
hundred thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the
population
of the territory prior to the most recent regular
federal census
exceeded one hundred thousand, the legislative
authority of the
municipal corporation may declare, by
resolution, that the
territory shall be considered to have a
population of at least one
hundred thousand. (J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at
all sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in
the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors
and receive verdicts.
Section 4. That the existing version of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2004, is hereby repealed.
Section 5. Sections 3 and 4 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2004.
Section 6. (A) Notwithstanding the requirements of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code, as amended by Section 1 of this act, candidates for the office of Clerk of the Clermont County Municipal Court in 2003 shall be nonpartisan candidates only and shall file nominating petitions with the board of elections not later than four p.m. of the seventy-fifth day before the day of the general election.
(B) Notwithstanding section 1901.31 of the Revised Code, as amended by Section 1 of this act, the Clerk of Courts of Clermont County shall continue to serve as Clerk of the Clermont County Municipal Court, as provided in section 1901.31 of the Revised Code before its amendment by this act, through December 31, 2003.
Section 7. This act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity is that Clermont County urgently needs to revise the method by which it selects the clerk of its municipal court, and the county will be adversely affected if this change does not take immediate effect. Therefore, this act shall go into immediate effect.
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