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Oberlin Municipal Court is a
single Judge Court. Thomas A. Januzzi is the Judge of the Court.
Judge Januzzi was elected in November 2007 and is presently serving a six
year term beginning January 1, 2008.
You can reach the Judge’s
office directly by calling 440-775-1402. This is the telephone
of the Court Bailiff office. You cannot contact the Judge directly.
Your call must be screened. The Judge is not trying to be
impersonal or unfriendly or unhelpful by having the calls
screened. Just like all of us the Judge has certain rules that
he must follow. The rules that a Judge must follow are set forth
in the Code of Judicial Conduct which is a set of rules adopted
by the Supreme Court of Ohio. One of the rules discusses when a
Judge may speak to parties or their attorneys in a pending case.
The rule is set forth in Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial
Conduct:
Canon 3 (B) (7) of the Code
of Judicial Conduct provides that:
“A judge shall not initiate, receive, permit, or
consider communications made to the judge outside the presence
to the parties or their representatives concerning a pending or
impending proceeding except:
(a)
Where circumstances require, ex parte communications for
scheduling, administrative purposes, or emergencies that do not
address substantive matters or issues on the merits are
permitted if the judge reasonably believes that no party will
gain a procedural or tactical advantage as a result of the ex
parte communication.
(b)
A
judge may obtain the advice of a disinterested expert on the law
applicable to the proceeding before the judge if the judge gives
notice to the parties of the person consulted and the substance
of the advice and affords the parties reasonable opportunity to
respond.
(c)
A
judge may consult with court personnel whose function is to aid
the judge in carrying out the judge’s adjudicative
responsibilities or with other judges.
(d)
As
authorized by law.”
The court secretary, one of
the bailiffs or a member of the staff of the Clerk of Court can
usually assist you in determining how and under what
circumstances you are permitted to communicate with the Judge.
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