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Ohio Judicial Conference presents modest budget request and describes statewide coordination role for 722 judges
Summary
Judge David Heminowski, representing the Ohio Judicial Conference, described the group's nonpartisan role supporting 722 judges statewide and asked the committee to approve a modest budget that leverages a dedicated fund and reduces general fund requests.
After prior witnesses, Judge David Heminowski, speaking for the Ohio Judicial Conference, summarized the conference's work and budget request during the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee's Sub House Bill 96 hearing.
Heminowski said the Ohio Judicial Conference (OJC) is a nonpartisan state agency representing "all 722 judges in the state of Ohio" and coordinates judicial communication with the legislative and executive branches. He summarized the OJC's functions: studying court coordination, encouraging uniform application of laws, promoting exchanges of experience, and addressing administration-of-justice issues. He said much of that work is done through 21 committees staffed by more than 200 judges and supported by an eight-person OJC staff.
Heminowski described the OJC's funding sources: a portion from the state's General Revenue Fund and a dedicated-purpose fund that receives dues, conference fees and royalties (including sales of the Ohio Jury Instructions). He said the dedicated fund is being used in the current budget to cover some personnel costs and reduce the requested General Revenue Fund amount. He noted the current version of House Bill 96 before the committee contains no increases from the executive's version of the budget request.
In response to a question from Vice Chair Brenner about a projected operating increase, Paul (OJC executive staff) explained some one-time costs — including a website facelift — and said the dedicated fund had been relatively flat while expenses increased, with a projected draw on the fund. Heminowski and OJC staff said they use Supreme Court salary surveys to align employee compensation and try to limit year-to-year increases.
Senator DeMora asked whether the OJC tracks sentencing statistics across counties; Heminowski said the OJC itself does not compile those statistics but the Ohio Supreme Court and the Ohio Sentencing Commission have undertaken such studies and the OJC uses that data in internal committee discussions.
Heminowski concluded by offering to answer questions; the committee continued the hearing with additional invited testimony.
