Law Library Information Series

The Law Library Information Series offers discreet guides that will help you navigate your way through the world of Ohio and Federal law, the Library's physical layout and online catalog, and the eclectic collection of art that is displayed within the facility.

The guides are formatted as pamphlets, and can be downloaded and printed as such. Please call the Library (614.387.9680) or e-mail (libref@sconet.state.oh.us) for additional information.

Ohio Case Law: Where to Find It Finding Ohio case law became much easier with the advent of online searching. However, because libraries have books, CD-ROMs and microfiche, and usually do not charge for using them, it is still useful and cost-effective to have a working knowledge of how to find cases using these resources. This guide will help you locate the case law you need for your research. Government Documents Congress established the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) in the mid-1800s to provide free public access to federal government publications. Administered by the Government Printing Office (GPO), the FDLP collects, organizes, distributes and preserves information produced by the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government. Federal Legislative History A federal legislative history is a compilation of the documents that track a bill as it moves through Congress. Federal legislative histories are used to understand the purpose and intent of federal statutes. When a question arises concerning the applicability or interpretation of a statute, a legislative history can be compiled or consulted to better understand the reasons for the enactment of that statute. Law Library Collection Guide This guide will help you navigate the Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library collection, which is housed on the 11th through 15th floors of the Ohio Judicial Center. If you have any questions, please visit the circulation desk on the 11th Floor. Ohio Legal Research The Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library has a wide variety of print and electronic resources that are helpful for conducting research on the Constitution, laws and legal history of Ohio. The majority of the Ohio collection is shelved on the 11th Floor in the Ohio stacks or in the Reading Room. History of the Rule of Law Oil Paintings The Supreme Court of Ohio Rule of Law Gallery is home to a series of six, 4-by-8-foot oil paintings created by artist Ron Anderson that depict the evolution of law in Western civilization. The paintings are on permanent loan from the Ohio State Bar Association. The Supreme Court of Ohio Article IV, Section I, of the Ohio Constitution establishes the Supreme Court of Ohio as the court of last resort in Ohio. Article IV, Section 2, sets the size of the Court and outlines its jurisdiction and Article IV, Section 5, grants rule-making and other authority to the Court. The Court consists of the Chief Justice and six justices, who are elected to six-year terms. Reading Room Art: Chihuly Sculptures The north end of the Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library Reading Room features two four-foot sculptures created by blown-glass artist Dale Chihuly. The sculptures are on loan for permanent display from the Ohio State Bar Association.

Legal Periodicals: Print, Microform and Online The online catalog lists periodicals in the collection by title and call number. Most periodicals issued in book format are on the 14th Floor in alphabetical order. Periodicals similar to newsletters are shelved by call number throughout the rest of the collection, and those on microfiche/microfilm are stored in the AV Room on the 12th Floor. Online periodicals can be accessed on library computers. Ohio Legislative History Uncovering the history of Ohio bills and laws is often difficult because the Ohio General Assembly (OGA) does not maintain a formal, comprehensive record of the legislative activity for any given piece of legislation. Despite the absence of a clear paper trail, certain valuable sources of legislative history can be found in the Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library. The U.S. Supreme Court Article III, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution provides that the “judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court.” Created in accordance with this provision and by authority of the Judiciary Act of 1789 (1 Stat. 73), the Supreme Court convened for the first time on Feb. 2, 1790. The Court, which holds a continuous annual term commencing on the first Monday in October (28 U.S.C. §2), consists of the Chief Justice and eight associate Justices. The Online Catalog The online catalog lists items the library owns or has access to, including books, serials, AV materials, CD-ROMs, DVDs, Web sites, etc. The catalog is accessible through public workstations in the library or online at www.supremecourtofohio.gov/LawLibrary/. Click SCROLL WEB Access to use the catalog. Reading Room Murals Missouri artist (LeRoy) Daniel MacMorris painted the seven murals located on the south wall of the Law Library Reading Room. The murals, titled Evolution of the Printed Book, were his earliest public mural project. The Ohio Constitution The Ohio Constitution is the fundamental law of the state of Ohio. The Constitution defines what rights are guaranteed to the citizens of Ohio and organizes the government into three separate branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch. The first Constitution was adopted in 1802 as a prerequisite to statehood. The current Ohio Constitution, which dates from 1851 (as amended), is the second in the state’s history. Ohio Practice Materials Secondary sources describe, explain and analyze the law and are excellent research tools for accessing primary source materials. The Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library has an extensive collection of practice materials on a wide variety of subjects that provide in-depth discussions on Ohio law, sample forms and annotations to primary sources. The majority of the Ohio treatises are shelved in the Ohio stacks on the 11th Floor.