About Ohio Court Watch

Ohio Court Watch is a first-of-its-kind initiative bringing a new level of transparency to the judicial system in our state. Moderated by former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael P. Donnelly, the program is powered by law students at Cleveland State College of Law who are trained to observe, analyze, and report on cases at every level of Ohio’s courts—from trial courts, to the twelve appellate districts, to the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Our mission is to shine light on how cases move through the judicial system, with a particular focus on the Ohio Supreme Court’s discretionary docket: the cases it chooses to hear, and the many it declines. By documenting both accepted and rejected appeals, our students explore what issues the Court finds to be of “great public interest,” and what important constitutional or systemic concerns are left unaddressed.

Students act as investigative legal journalists. They prepare accessible summaries, highlight key legal issues, and report on the reasoning of majority and dissenting opinions. Just as importantly, they analyze the cases that never make it to the high court, many of which raise pressing questions about due process, sentencing disparities, wrongful convictions, or systemic inefficiencies.

Why This Matters

• For litigators and appellate counsel, our reporting provides insight into what issues are resonating with Ohio’s highest court.
• For journalists, it offers context and a reliable resource for covering the courts.
• For citizens, it delivers plain-language explanations of how judicial decisions impact constitutional rights and daily life.

By training the next generation of lawyers to watch the courts closely — and by sharing their work publicly — Ohio Court Watch promotes accountability, transparency, and trust in the rule of law.

Ohio Court Watch Team

Fall 2026 Staff

• Joseph Dempsey – Editor in Chief
• Rachel Revehl – Deputy Editor
• Joshua Katz – TA, Reporter
• Mustafa Abu-Kaud – Reporter
• Gwyn Anderson – Reporter
• Rhonda Bicknell – Reporter
• Laura Davis – Reporter
• Raymond Debolt – Reporter
• Erin Donovan – Reporter
• John Hampton – Reporter
• Brynn Kemelhar – Reporter
• Jazmyne Shaw – Reporter

Justice Michael P. Donnelly

Ohio Court Watch founder and instructor Michael P. Donnelly is a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. He now serves as Of Counsel at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, where his practice focuses on mediation, arbitration, and consulting on appellate advocacy. Over a judicial career spanning two decades, including fourteen years on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and service as Ohio’s 160th Supreme Court Justice, he earned national recognition for his leadership in sentencing reform, plea-bargaining transparency, and civil-justice-reform initiatives aimed at eliminating systemic delay and improving access to timely, fair adjudication. A former prosecutor and civil litigator, Justice Donnelly has been a frequent lecturer for judicial and academic institutions across the country and has played key roles on statewide task forces addressing professionalism, conviction integrity, and postconviction review. A Cleveland Heights resident, he is a graduate of St. Ignatius High School, John Carroll University, and Cleveland State University College of Law.