Login | May 07, 2025
Muni court launches video series on navigating the system
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 5, 2024
Navigating the court system can be challenging for individuals who don’t have the ability to hire a lawyer to represent them and are unfamiliar with the procedures.
Recently the judges at Akron Municipal Court tried to make the process a bit easier, unveiling a series of videos on the court’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@akronmunicipalcourt) that explain the resources available to unrepresented or pro se civil litigants, the various steps involved in certain court proceedings and how to set up and use Zoom for a remote court hearing.
Posted in mid-December, the videos were funded by a grant from the Ohio Supreme Court’s Civil Justice Fund, which provides money to courts to create innovative programming and services that are designed to offer direct legal assistance to low-income, underserved and disadvantaged Ohioans.
“Our mission has always been to ensure access to justice for residents,” said Akron Municipal Court Judge Ron Cable. “These videos are just an expansion of that initiative.
“They are designed to help unrepresented litigants understand the options that are available to them and get answers to procedural questions, which also takes the burden off our staff members who are not permitted to give legal advice. If an individual still has questions after watching a video, he/she can contact our court navigator to get more information.”
There are a total of four videos, which vary in length from about two-and-a-half to seven minutes. They were produced by Legion Media Group in Akron.
Each one begins with a brief discussion from an Akron Municipal Court judge, with Administrative/Presiding Judge David Hamilton introducing the videos titled “Services Available to Self-Represented Litigants Involved in Eviction Hearings” and “Next Steps to Follow if You Have Been Evicted.”
Judge Cable hosts “How to Utilize Zoom for Your Court Hearing,” and Akron Municipal Court Judge Jon Oldham presents “How to Successfully Navigate Online Dispute Resolution.”
The introductions are followed by an in-depth explanation of the issues provided by former WKYC anchor Sara Shookman, who serves as talent.
Shookman, who started Storyglow Studio in northeast Ohio in January 2023, said the project was an opportunity she could not pass up.
“At WKYC, I shared stories from the courthouse so I knew Nicole Hagy, the community outreach and grants coordinator,” said Shookman. “Nicole reached out to me in June and asked if I would be interested in participating. I thought it would be a great opportunity since I've continued to work in the storytelling space, so I said yes.
“Creating these videos for people finding themselves in a new and difficult legal situation was something that really appealed to me,” said Shookman. “I think it’s very important to provide as much guidance as possible and as someone whom people in northeast Ohio have come to know and trust, it was great to be in a position to do so.”
It was back in July 2022 when the court was awarded the $2,384.85 grant to fund the video series.
“Our judges and magistrates collaborated to develop the topics and the scripts for the videos,” said Judge Oldham. “We discussed the most commonly asked questions we receive from pro se litigants and how these videos could eliminate any surprises, confusion or difficulties. We want to make processes easy to understand for all court users.”
Judge Cable said he was particularly interested in Zoom because of its potential to decrease the various burdens on low-income litigants.
“In a situation where an individual is involved in an eviction proceeding for example, not having to appear in court can eliminate transportation and child care costs for the tenant and help avoid delays in the case because of scheduling conflicts between the tenant and landlord.
“Obviously we prefer to do the hearings in person but if that can’t happen Zoom is a great option,” said Judge Cable. “The video goes through the various steps involved in using Zoom to make the process smoother.”
Judge Oldham said the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) video that he participated in is designed to make ODR as user-friendly as possible.
“Our ODR program launched in September 2021 and any litigant involved in either an eviction or small claims case is required to register for ODR unless the court exempts the person from doing so.
“ODR is designed to help resolve disputes in a more efficient fashion and the video attempts to make the process as transparent and understandable as possible,” said Judge Oldham.
“At the end of the day the goal is to remove the mystery surrounding our court system and thanks to the Supreme Court and its Civil Justice Fund we were able to put these videos out for the public to take advantage of,” said Judge Oldham.
Judge Cable said the videos might also be useful to other courts.
“Assuming their rules are parallel with ours, other courts are welcome to direct their litigants to them rather than trying to reproduce them,” said Judge Cable.