Author Archives: Judge Deborah J. Nicastro

Digital Evidence Center at Garfield Heights Municipal Court

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Judge Deborah J. Nicastro

The frustration of discovery delays has driven me to implement a web-based digital evidence center for the Garfield Heights Municipal Court.  Discovery in criminal and traffic cases is one process that did not improve with remote hearings. Even with email exchange, I frequently have to continue cases for completion of discovery.  With ten law enforcement […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> Court Technology | Comments Off on Digital Evidence Center at Garfield Heights Municipal Court

OBMV License Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Chart For Traffic Defense Attorneys

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Judge Deborah J. Nicastro

The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation has printed this infographic to explain the OBMV License Reinstatement Fee Debt Reduction and Amnesty Program. Click here DLreinstateInfographic. 

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> Traffic | Comments Off on OBMV License Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Chart For Traffic Defense Attorneys

SPEEDY TRIAL CHEAT SHEET

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Judge Deborah J. Nicastro

SPEEDY TRIAL CHEAT SHEET for Criminal Defense Attorneys and Prosecutors. By Chris Greene, Esq. with assistance from Robert Walton, Esq. (5-11-21)

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> Criminal, OVI, Traffic | Comments Off on SPEEDY TRIAL CHEAT SHEET

Keeping Clients Informed – Assigned-Counsel Fees

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Judge Deborah J. Nicastro

By Shaker Heights Municipal Court Magistrate Anne Walton-Keller Recently the Supreme Court of Ohio decided that a trial court, pursuant to R.C. 2941.51(D), may order a criminal defendant to pay his or her court-appointed-counsel fees without first articulating explicit findings about the defendant’s ability to pay. State v Taylor, 2020-Ohio-6786. Taylor was ordered to pay […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> General | Comments Off on Keeping Clients Informed – Assigned-Counsel Fees

New Edition of the Ohio Driver’s License Reinstatement Handbook

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Judge Deborah J. Nicastro

Judge Nicastro and Robert Walton published the 6th Edition of the Ohio Driver’s License Reinstatement Handbook today.  The new edition explains the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ permanent debt reduction and amnesty program, omits several repealed suspensions and summarizes some relevant case law.  Although limited, the case law in this area is illuminating. State v. […]

<span class="entry-utility-prep entry-utility-prep-cat-links">Posted in</span> License Reinstatement | Comments Off on New Edition of the Ohio Driver’s License Reinstatement Handbook