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Chief Justice
O’Connor Addresses Opioid Epidemic
By Bret Crow
September 15, 2016
In the wake of continued fentanyl-related overdose deaths around the
state, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor today urged
courts and probation departments statewide to screen for fentanyl use
among offenders under their supervision.
Those pointed remarks and others affecting the judicial branch were
part of Chief Justice O’Connor’s sixth State of the Judiciary address
before a gathering of 150 judges at the annual Ohio Judicial Conference
in Columbus.
“I would encourage all drug courts – make that all courts and all
probation departments throughout the state – to include, if you don’t
already do so, fentanyl screening,” she said. “We all know that
fentanyl and other forms of illicit opioids are making their way onto
the streets. Basic opioid testing may not reveal the breadth of a
person’s abuse. Without that screening, a person could be using and
remain off the radar. This could happen even under court supervision.
Loopholes like this need to be closed – and fast.”
The fentanyl remarks were part of a section of the speech devoted to a
recent nine-state regional judicial opioid initiative held in
Cincinnati. The yearlong, first-of-its kind initiative of regional
policy planning and development across state criminal justice, public
health, family support, and medical and behavioral treatment systems
seeks to meaningfully engage partners on a regional level on ways to
combat the opioid epidemic.
Chief Justice O’Connor also touched on her work nationally and
statewide to eliminate so-called “debtors’ prisons” regarding fines,
fees, and bail that disproportionately affect economically
disadvantaged communities. She serves as co-chair of the National Task
Force on Fines, Fees and Bail Practices formed by the Conference of
Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators.
Judges also were informed that proposed changes to Criminal Rule 6,
which concerns grand juries, would address some of the recommendations
of a grand jury task force. The group was charged with seeking ways to
maintain public trust and confidence in the grand jury system.
Other topics covered in her remarks included three recent rules adopted
by the Supreme Court to increase access to justice and a continued push
for judges to spread the word about Judicial Votes Count, a statewide
partnership to place more information online in one place about
judicial candidates so Ohio voters can make informed decisions at the
ballot box.
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