We write many articles about Expungement in Ohio, and we have already addressed the change that made true expungement possible in many cases. Before 2023, almost no adult cases could be truly expunged. Many could be sealed - that is, hidden from the public record....
Lebanon Ohio Legal Blog
Ohio’s Recent Changes to Victim’s Rights Laws (Marcy’s Law)
Earlier this year, the Ohio Supreme Court instituted a new law that majorly impacted the way the Ohio legal system approaches victim's rights. One of the biggest changes was that victims now have the ability to hire counsel to represent them in their own cases. In...
What factors does a judge consider for sentencing?
After a criminal conviction, the judge has the final say in what will happen to you. The sentencing phase of the legal process has a lot of rules, though. A judge must follow sentencing guidelines and adhere to the general criminal sentencing principles when deciding...
How to create a strong criminal defense case
You must follow a particular set of steps when officials charge you with a crime. These are the same whether you are responsible for a petty misdemeanor or drunk driving. During your trial, you will fight your district court's prosecutor. Therefore, you need to know...
New Laws in 2023 and Expungement in Ohio
For the past several years Expungement has been one of the most sought-after topics on our website. Not only can sealing or expunging a criminal record be beneficial to many individuals, but the laws governing expungement in Ohio have been shifting and changing,...
Practice Effects of Bruen on United States Firearms Cases
Last year, when the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling on New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, inc. v. Bruen, we wrote an article discussing how the new law could impact Ohio. On the surface, it does not appear that such a law would impact Ohio...
Proposed New Law Could Change Marijuana OVI in Ohio
Marijuana laws in Ohio have become rather complicated in recent years. When medical marijuana became legal, we wrote an article called "Medical Marijuana: an OVI Trap?" We saw medical marijuana as a potential OVI trap because marijuana, unlike alcohol, can stay in a...
Do not talk to police, even when innocent
Many people believe that if they are innocent of a crime, they have nothing to fear by talking to the police. However, this is not always the case. Even if you are innocent, it is crucial to understand your rights and the potential consequences of speaking to the...
DUI and OVI while Underage / Juveniles
As you are probably aware, you have to be 16 to obtain a driver's license, 18 to be considered an adult, and 21 to be considered of legal drinking age. Because these legal ages are all different, OVI is handled differently depending on how old you are. Most drivers...
Common Questions About DUI/OVI in Ohio
Is DUI/OVI in Ohio a Felony? Whether or not a DUI/OVI is a felony depends mainly your previous OVI record. An OVI becomes a felony if you have: 3 or more OVIs in 10 years 5 or more OVIs in 20 years Any felony OVI from any period of time We go into more detail about...