Municipal court puts case data on web site

12/28/2001

Information on traffic, criminal, and civil cases in Toledo Municipal Court can be obtained with the click of a mouse button.

The court recently set up an Internet web site that provides updates on court cases and information about court operations.

Judge Arlene Singer, presiding and administrative judge of the court, demonstrated the site's features yesterday.

“This web site will make updated information available not only to the public, but also to assist attorneys with access to trial dates, court rules, and phone numbers,” Judge Singer said.

The address is http://www.toledomunicipalcourt.org.

After punching in a case file number and clicking the mouse, Judge Singer showed that anyone involved in the court system as either a defendant or a plaintiff can follow his or her case as it proceeds through the judicial system. Attorneys can enter their Ohio Supreme Court registration number to track down cases they have pending with the court.

The Case Assignment Tracking System, accessible from the web site's home page, provides information on the status of trials and pretrial hearings on about 4,000 active cases assigned to the court's seven judges. “That is definitely very helpful. It is a good tracking measure for myself to make sure that I don't miss any cases,” Toledo lawyer Martin McManus said.

The court plans to provide sentencing information for traffic and criminal cases.

“The use of information for this web site is just beginning. I am eager to hear responses from the public and attorneys to see what they want to have on it,” Judge Singer said.

The information is updated twice a day.

Judge Singer said the court's computer system is compatible with one maintained by the clerk of court's office which has been online with its own web site since May, 2000.

In addition to information on pending cases, the site has information about court programs, including the Citizens Dispute Settlement Program and the Responsible Educated Driver Program, which assists motorists in regaining driving privileges.

There's a map that shows the location of the municipal courthouse, nearby streets in the vicinity of the building, and directions. The names and phone numbers for court house staff, hours of operations, and court rules are on the web site.

The site has links to the sites of other courts, court-related organizations, and governmental agencies, including the Toledo Bar Association, the Ohio Supreme Court, and Toledo police.

Maggie Thurber, clerk of courts, said she plans to have a link to the municipal court web site. The clerk of courts site provides courtroom information on cases. The site is updated daily.