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Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
@ohfaircourts.bsky.social
210 followers 450 following 370 posts
Dedicated to creating a court system that exemplifies and protects equity, fairness & justice for all. ohiofaircourts.org
More: https://linktr.ee/ohiofaircourts
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Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
commoncauseohio.bsky.social
The SAVE America Act has prompted warnings that its proof of citizenship rules could keep millions of Americans, particularly married women, from voting.
by Sabrina Eaton
www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...
Did you change your name when you got married? This proposed voting law could affect you
The SAVE America Act has prompted warnings that its proof of citizenship rules could keep millions of Americans, particularly married women, from voting. All Ohio Republicans voted for it. Ohio Democr...
www.cleveland.com
February 19, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
fairdistrictsoh.bsky.social
Other Democracies Don’t Redraw Voting Maps Quite Like the U.S. Here’s Why.
In the battle for Congress, redistricting has become all the rage in America. Other nations have guardrails in place to avoid the same situation.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
Other Democracies Don’t Redraw Voting Maps Quite Like the U.S. Here’s Why.
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:22 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
NEW from @statecourtreport.org

According to the Ohio Supreme Court, cops are considered “victims” under Marsy’s Law. This permits the city to redact officers’ names & other info from a newspaper’s public records request.

statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...
Ohio Supreme Court Reaffirms Text-First Approach in Decision Confirming Marsy’s Law Includes Police Officers
The court held that police officers can be considered “victims” under laws that give crime victims special protections.
statecourtreport.org
February 18, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
commoncauseohio.bsky.social
PLEASE CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION!
🗓️ The voter registration deadline for the May 5, 2026 primary is April 6.
Register to vote at your county Board of Elections or online: olvr.ohiosos.gov
Check your voter registration: voterlookup.ohiosos.gov/voterlookup....
February 18, 2026 at 2:33 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
U.S. Senator Jon Husted met with the alleged mastermind of Ohio's largest public corruption scheme two days before scandal-ridden bribery legislation was introduced, according to his official calendar.

By: @morgantrau.bsky.social

www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Sen. Husted met with man accused of bribery 2 days before H.B. 6 was introduced, according to schedule
Senator Jon Husted met with the alleged mastermind of Ohio's largest public corruption scheme two days before scandal-ridden bribery legislation was introduced, according to his official calendar.
www.news5cleveland.com
February 18, 2026 at 4:03 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
Contested judicial races on Montgomery Co ballots this primary season:

COMMON PLEAS COURT JUDGE
D: Richard F. Glennon III
R: Steve Abshire, Jack Pook

COMMON PLEAS COURT JUDGE - PROBATE DIVISION
D: Michael L. Wright, Cassandra A. Rice
R: David Brannon

www.daytondailynews.com/local/electi...
Election 2026: Contested races on Montgomery County May primary ballots
Montgomery County voters this spring will weigh in on what candidates they want to see advance to the general election for multiple local, state and federal races.
www.daytondailynews.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:21 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
Everything you need to know about the FirstEnergy trial if you haven’t been paying attention

By: @morgantrau.bsky.social

ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/02/18/e...
Everything you need to know about the FirstEnergy trial if you haven't been paying attention • Ohio Capital Journal
State witnesses raised red flags about former FirstEnergy executives and their relationship with an allegedly corrupt utility regulator during the second week of the men's trial.
ohiocapitaljournal.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:10 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
A Franklin County judge agreed with prosecutors that police can search a car for marijuana without a search warrant, based on smell and a driver’s behavior, even though the drug is legal in the state.

www.dispatch.com/story/news/c...
Marijuana smell enough to search car, despite Ohio legalization, judge says
A Franklin County judge said marijuana possession is still a federal crime, so police can search a car based on odor - even though its legal in Ohio.
www.dispatch.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:08 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
Former FirstEnergy ethics chief Ebony Yeboah-Amankwa testified that then-CEO Chuck Jones personally signed off on the $4.3M payment that prosecutors say was a bribe to Sam Randazzo, who was about to become chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...
“Smoking gun:” FirstEnergy trial testimony ties former CEO Chuck Jones to $4.3 million bribe
Explosive courtroom revelation puts Jones directly in approval chain for rushed payment to Sam Randazzo, raising questions about how the defense can explain away what appears to be a damning connectio...
www.cleveland.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:48 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
In major twist, FirstEnergy execs seek to toss charges in bribery trial, alleging prosecutorial misconduct.

www.cleveland.com/court-justic...
In major twist, FirstEnergy execs seek to toss charges in bribery trial
Defense attorneys for Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling claim prosecutors withheld evidence from key witness conversations in the case.
www.cleveland.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:40 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
FirstEnergy fired these guys. Why is it paying millions for their lawyers?

By: ⁦‪Laura Bischoff

www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/c...
FirstEnergy fired these guys. Why is it paying millions for their lawyers?
Why is FirstEnergy paying the legal bills for two executives it fired? It's standard in corporate America, experts say.
www.beaconjournal.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
commoncauseohio.bsky.social
Everything you need to know about the FirstEnergy trial if you haven't been paying attention
by Morgan Trau
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Everything you need to know about the FirstEnergy trial if you haven't been paying attention
State witnesses raised red flags about former FirstEnergy executives and their relationship with an allegedly corrupt utility regulator during the second week of the men's trial.
www.news5cleveland.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
lwvohio.bsky.social
Voting rights groups sue Ohio over law cancelling registrations without notice
The League of Women Voters and Council on American-Islamic Relations are asking the court to block portions of the law from taking effect.
by Nick Evans
ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/02/17/v...
Voting rights groups sue Ohio over law cancelling registrations without notice • Ohio Capital Journal
Voting rights groups contend an Ohio law signed late last year relies on shaky data to remove voters from the rolls when federal law doesn’t allow it — all without providing notice to the voters facin...
ohiocapitaljournal.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:45 AM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Summit County judge Susan Baker Ross went too far in restricting what news organizations could record and publish about a much-watched trial involving former FirstEnergy executives accused of bribery.

www.cleveland.com/court-justic...
Ohio Supreme Court strikes down media restrictions in FirstEnergy bribery trial
The state's high court said media should be allowed to hear why certain witnesses don't want to be photographed or recorded.
www.cleveland.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
lwvohio.bsky.social
League in Action is a tool to help us share civic information and organize to protect and strengthen voter rights.

Scan to download League in Action here or go to bit.ly/LeagueInActionApp, then search League of Women Voters of Ohio
February 17, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
lwvohio.bsky.social
Changes to Ohio's absentee voting rules mean getting your ballot in early is really important. The good news? You can request your absentee ballot for the spring primary now before Ohio's early voting period starts on April 7.
📲Start by going to ohiosos.gov or your county Board of Election’s site
February 16, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
lwvohio.bsky.social
SB 293, signed into law by Ohio Governor DeWine in December, puts eligible voters, especially those who are naturalized citizens, at risk of being purged from the voter rolls without meaningful prior notice.
So we're headed to court.
See the full release here: www.acluohio.org/press-releas...
February 15, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
commoncauseohio.bsky.social
“Smoking gun:” FirstEnergy trial testimony ties former CEO Chuck Jones to $4.3 million bribe
www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...
“Smoking gun:” FirstEnergy trial testimony ties former CEO Chuck Jones to $4.3 million bribe
Explosive courtroom revelation puts Jones directly in approval chain for rushed payment to Sam Randazzo, raising questions about how the defense can explain away what appears to be a damning connectio...
www.cleveland.com
February 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
lwvohio.bsky.social
Today, the League of Women Voters of Ohio (LWVO) and CAIR-Northern Ohio filed a federal lawsuit challenging Ohio’s Senate Bill (SB) 293 for violating the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause.
Read more here:
www.acluohio.org/press-releas...
February 13, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
commoncauseohio.bsky.social
Voting rights advocates are challenging a new Ohio election law, arguing it will disenfranchise naturalized citizens who can legally cast a ballot.
by Haley BeMiller
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Ohio sued over law that purges suspected noncitizens from voter rolls
Voting rights advocates say a new Ohio election law will disenfranchise naturalized citizens who can legally cast a ballot.
www.dispatch.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:12 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
Criminal justice is a top issue in state legislatures this year

By: Amanda Watford

ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/02/13/r...
Criminal justice is a top issue in state legislatures this year • Ohio Capital Journal
Criminal justice has emerged as one of the most wide-ranging and politically charged areas in this year’s state legislative sessions.
ohiocapitaljournal.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:14 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
Ohio coal plants, including one formerly propped up by the scandal-ridden HB 6 ($60M bribery scheme), to get new federal lifeline under Trump

Between 2016 and 2025, Ohioans paid upwards of $679 million on their power bills to subsidize the plants.

www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...
Ohio coal plants, including one formerly propped up by HB6, to get new federal lifeline under Trump
Two Ohio coal power plants have been picked by President Donald Trump to get a share of $175 million worth of federal funding to pay for upgrades to rural coal plants keep them in operation.
www.cleveland.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:10 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
Newly released ethics guidance for the federal judiciary makes clear that judges can speak out against “illegitimate forms of criticism and attacks.”
www.cnn.com/2026/02/12/p...
New judicial ethics code says judges may speak out against ‘illegitimate’ attacks | CNN Politics
Newly released ethics guidance for the federal judiciary makes clear that judges can speak out against “illegitimate forms of criticism and attacks.”
www.cnn.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:57 PM
ohfaircourts.bsky.social
Franklin County Dems snub incumbent judge, endorse primary challenger

The Franklin County Democratic Party endorsed challenger Kelly Boller over incumbent Judge George Leach in a local primary.

By: @lairdwrites.bsky.social
www.dispatch.com/story/news/p...
Franklin County Dems snub incumbent judge, endorse primary challenger
In a rare move, the Franklin County Democratic Party snubbed an incumbent Juvenile and Domestic Relations judge to endorse his challenger
www.dispatch.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
taniel.bsky.social
NEW: In Iowa, when someone's charges are *dismissed,* they still had to pay court fees. So prosecutors pressured ppl into pleading guilty: 'plead guilty, you'll have no fees. (If you win, you'll owe $$.)'

Iowa's Supreme Court struck that down in January... but prosecutors want to bring it all back:
In Iowa, Prosecutors Want to Bring Back Court Fees as Bargaining Chips - Bolts
Iowa's high court recently ended the practice of making defendants pay fees for charges that get dismissed. Prosecutors are backing legislation to undo the court’s ruling so they can keep using fees a...
boltsmag.org
February 13, 2026 at 2:52 PM