Sometimes when I am helping library users, they ask for a “simple” description of what happens in a trial. Cases can get complicated very quickly and if you are litigating your own case, you need to know what the next step is to prepare your case properly. Today I am providing links to websites that describe the stages of a typical civil and criminal trial. Some of the sites are from other state courts but are general enough that they still apply for Ohio.
Civil Trials
What happens in a pre-trial conference?
What is discovery?
What is the difference between a motion and a pleading?
To answer these questions take a look at these sites:
Steps in a Trial, by the American Bar Association, organizes links in the same order you would come across them in a case. Click the links to get a description of the step. More information here.
The Anatomy of a Trial describes the process in paragraph format, but still keeps it brief. Look here and here .
Criminal Trials
What happens during initial appearance?
How do you present evidence?
What is a rebuttal?
The American Bar Association (ABA) and Findlaw.com (site owned by Thompson Reuters) describe the steps in a criminal case. Also, the ABA has a Criminal Case diagram.
Audio and Video Ohio Court Case Tours
For strictly an Ohio focus, try the Ohio Case Tours on the Ohio Legal Services site. The purpose of the Court Case Tours is “to help the residents of Ohio learn more about their local courts, these audio and video files provide a quick and simple explanation of what local courts do.” The trial steps are broken down into one minute video and audio segments starting with pre-trial proceedings through verdicts at the end of a trial. Courts covered are civil, criminal, and various court divisions like domestic relations, probate, mayor’s court, traffic court, etc.
Need a more detailed description of the various Ohio Courts?
The Ohio Supreme Court has a nice description here and a chart of the judicial structure .
What is the difference between the Federal Court System and the State Court System?
A general overview of the Federal Courts and a brief explanation of Article III courts and Article I courts can be found here.
A great side-by-side comparison chart that looks at structure, types of cases heard and how judges are selected is found here.
Next week:
So you want to sue the government? There’s a court for that!
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Another gripping read by the same name, "Anatomy of a Trial" was published recently by University of Missouri Press. Includes just about every aspect of media law. For everyone interested in fair trial/free press issues or in how the news media shapes public opinion about the courts and diminishes public confidence in the judiciary and the news industry this is a page-turning must read.