BY NICK EVANS
Legislation meant to reverse a state supreme court decision on how judges set bail is progressing rapidly in the Ohio House. The measures could make their way to the floor this week, despite being introduced just 10 days ago.
The plan would direct judges to weigh public safety when determining the dollar value for bail. Judges already consider public safety when it comes to setting non-financial requirements. Tuesday, current and former prosecutors, as well as a sitting common pleas judge spoke in favor the changes in the House Criminal Justice Committee.
Chair Jeff LaRe, R-Violet Township, and Vice Chair D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, are co-sponsoring the legislation, and they’re taking a double-barreled approach. One proposal would alter state law, while the other attempts to put the idea to voters as a proposed constitutional amendment on November’s ballot.
As chair, LaRe has significant control over how quickly the measure can advance through his committee, and that could be welcome news to the bail industry. Making public safety a consideration in setting the financial terms for pre-trial release would tend to nudge bail amounts higher. In their press release announcing the legislation, for instance, LaRe and Swearingen highlight a case in Youngstown where a judge “dramatically” lowered the bond for a murder suspect because he couldn’t consider public safety when setting a dollar figure. READ MORE
House Republicans introduce Ohio’s version of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
Much like House Bill 327, House Bill 616 would ban the teaching of any divisive or inherently racist concept — but it goes a step further. This bill would prohibit the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity. (READ MORE)
Ohio Secretary of State says he didn’t call for Supreme Court chief’s ouster
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Tuesday denied that he had called for the impeachment of Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor after she had repeatedly ruled against LaRose and the rest of her fellow Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission. (READ MORE)
GOP Rep: Supreme Court should pay for 2nd primary after overturning redistricting maps
State Rep. Ron Ferguson, of Wintersville, unveiled a proposal requiring the Ohio Supreme Court to fund the roughly $25 million legislative primary election to reporters on Tuesday. This comes after the Ohio Supreme Court has rejected three sets of maps creating new election district lines, determining them to be unconstitutional gerrymanders unfairly in favor of Republicans. (READ MORE)
