The Supreme Court of Ohio has produced a new guide with recommended practices for courts to use in civil cases. The benchcard was developed as part of Supreme Court initiatives to offer guidance to support timely case management in local courts.

The Civil Caseflow Best Practices benchcard offers ideas for communicating and complying with time guidelines for the resolution of cases and highlights pertinent court rules. It also explains steps for triaging incoming cases and assigning them to appropriate paths – streamlined, general, or complex – for effective case management.

Several important stages for managing cases are identified, including:

• Scheduling and calendaring, with a sample notice and order.
• Service processes.
• Filing of answers.
• Pretrial procedures.
• Discovery plans and discovery disputes, including a sample report and plan.

Featured throughout the benchcard are best practice tips. It also discusses other important considerations, such as dispute resolution and settlement discussions, well-reasoned continuance policies, and cases involving self-represented parties.

The benchcard was grew out of recommendations made in “Advancing Timeliness in Ohio Courts,” a Court report published earlier this year. The report explored challenges and factors affecting caseflow management and timeliness in the Ohio judicial system, as identified by judicial officers, court administrators, and attorneys. Tools such as the benchcard, publications including “Pathway Approach for Civil Cases,” and online courses provide judges with practical, data-informed tools to improve civil case management and enhance overall court efficiency.