COLUMBUS, Ohio An Ohio judge who failed to adopt written rules for mask wearing and other coronavirus prevention measures has been removed from two cases by the chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Although Muskingum County Court Judge Mark Fleegle announced some preventative steps after a complaint, his lack of written procedures makes […]
2020/12/23 23:24 Defense attorney Harry Reinhart stands for a portrait at his office building in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. The Chief Justice of the Ohi. Defense attorney Harry Reinhart stands for a portrait at his office building in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. The Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court sided with a complaint by Reinhart that Muskingum County Judge Mark Fleegle wasn t providing sufficient protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in his courtroom. The chief justice pulled the judge off two trials Reinhart is participating in. (AP Photo/Andrew Welsh-Huggins) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) An Ohio judge who failed to adopt written rules for mask wearing and other coronavirus prevention measures has been removed from two cases by the chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Ohio judge pulled from cases over coronavirus concerns
By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS - Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) An Ohio judge who failed to adopt written rules for mask wearing and other coronavirus prevention measures has been removed from two cases by the chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Although Muskingum County Court Judge Mark Fleegle announced some preventative steps after a complaint, his lack of written procedures makes it difficult for jurors and others to know what’s expected of them, Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor said in an order earlier this month.
“Even if Judge Fleegle is convinced that he can preside over a safe jury trial without any sort of written protocol,” O’Connor wrote, he should recognize, “that the health concerns of attorneys and parties should be an important factor in deciding whether to proceed with jury trials during this phase of the pandemic.”
Chief Justice Maureen O Connor wrote that in his affidavit filed in November, Reinhart said that Fleegle was violating the statewide facial covering mandate and failed to implement other precautions such as the use of remote technology to conduct hearings. By doing so, Reinhart said Fleegle was ignoring the recommendations of the chief justice. Given the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Ohio and Muskingum County, Mr. Reinhart believes that contagious individuals will attend the December trials and that the risk of infection is unreasonable, O Connor wrote.
O Connor also explained Reinhart s concerns that his clients are worried he will be distracted in trial over his own health due to his age, 69, and higher risk for serious complications.
Outdoornews
December 17, 2020
Central Ohio – Wildlife District 1
Ohio’s state wildlife officers are often involved with fish management projects, wildlife management projects, and information and education duties. One of those wildlife management duties is collecting samples from road-killed deer so that they can be tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD). While on patrol, officers find deer that have been killed along the state’s roads and take a sample. The samples are then sent to a lab and are tested for the presence of the disease. This duty is extremely important to help our wildlife management professionals monitor for the presence of CWD in Ohio. CWD has never been found in Ohio’s wild deer herd.