Local Rule 66.1: Election-Related Matters
S.D. Ohio — Civil rule
66.1: Election-Related Matters This Rule is to ensure, to the extent practicable, that parties do not use the CM/ECF case-assignment system to direct a particular matter to, or away from, a specific Judicial Officer and to enhance transparency with regard to Election-Related Matter case assignments.
(a) Scope of Rule. An "Election-Related Matter" includes, without limitation, matters directed at polling place procedures, ballot tabulation procedures or methodologies, or voter registration or ballot access issues. For purposes of this Rule, a matter will be designated as an Election-Related Matter if it is (1) a matter filed in which the filing party has indicated the filing in CM/ECF is an election-related issue, or (2) a matter in which any form of preliminary injunctive relief is sought and which involves election-related issues, even if the filing is not identified as election-related in CM/ECF.
(b) Assignment of Election-Related Matters. For an Election-Related Matter, normal CM/ECF and case management policies and procedures will be modified as follows:
(1) Each Election-Related Matter designated as such at the time of filing will be assigned to a District Judge per the standard CM/ECF random-assignment process.
(2) Local Rule 3.1(b) will not apply to Election-Related Matters, and the presumption will be that an Election Related Matter will remain with the Judicial Officer to whom the case was originally assigned.