We will spend a bit of time later in the semester talking about, searching for and using public records. Consider this post a prelude.
In general, public records are dozens and dozens and dozens of various kinds of documents (kept in paper form or electronically) maintained by governments and other public entities, like nonprofits and publicly-held companies. There are many: County, state, federal, police departments, sheriffs, property records, some tax records. I could go on + I will later in the semester. Just know: Public records are the backbone of reporting and often let the public keep an eye on governments.
Court records, in particular, are a treasure trove of information that can prove immensely helpful in your reporting. Each state, county and municipal court system (excluding the federal system, which is on a system called PACER — more on that later) keeps its records a bit differently.
In some cases, you need to go to a courthouse, look up a document and ask a clerk to physically pull the file for you to view. In other cases, you can pull up some records online, but you may need to go to the clerk and get the document (or call or email and see if they will send it your way). In still others, all documents are online for your to view.
PROTIP: Even when all documents appear to be online, go to the courthouse and pull the paper file. There are often supplemental filings or other documents that may be tucked in the file. This is particularly true of older files, which you may have to request from the archive.
Many court records in Pike County, Ohio — where George Wagner IV is on trial — are online. but not all of them. In order to look them up, you need to know a few things: The URL to the court, the person's name you are searching for and generally a date of birth or some other identifying information to make sure you are searching for, and found, the right person to begin your research.
Here's a brief look at Pike County Common Pleas Court system and a few screenshots of what you would find in your search. (NOTE: Nebraska's court system is different and we will go through that in class). These examples are to help you understand, in general, how to find records and what to look for when you do.
The website address to begin our search is here. Once you agree to the policies, you will be taken to a search search, where you can search by name, case number, case type. I generally use name and start with a broad search to see what court a person have entries. In this case, the name you would use is George Wagner (there will be two (father and son: II and IV). The case number is 2018-CR-000155 (2018 is the year the case was filed; CR denotes it is a criminal case; 000155 is the number assigned)
When you find the person you are looking for, you can also glean important information here, too. In this case, his date of birth, his address his lawyers names and where their offices are.
PROTIP: Knowing Wagner IV's date of birth is important because his age will charge in the midst of the trial and as a reporter, you will have to change this so you story is accurate. It is always good to check and always good to note in your calendar or files as you are reporting.
Below this, you will see the following list view and from it, you will be able to pull up each case file. For our purposes, you would want to pull up the Wagner IV/Aggravated Murder.
Once you click on that link, you will see a list of events that have happened in the case and when they happened.
Once you scroll down, you will see the docket. A court docket are all the actions in a case that have transpired or are pending actions. These can be court orders, motions and other actions that need to be resolved. This is where you can find arguments in a case and important pending actions are are often stories — or at least actions you need to pay attention to follow the path of a case.
There are 511 entries once you scroll (as of Sept. 8), so it is a lot to go through. But the work pays off.
NOTE: the motions or other documents are NOT filed here. You would have to either go to the courthouse and get a copy or try to request it from the clerk of courts office. This shows you when a motion was filed.
However, in Pike County, the journal entries are fairly detailed and outline the judge's ruling or outcome. Below is an example of an entry. How I will this: I will be sure to be in court on Friday before 8:30 a.m. to see what the judge's ruling as it related to media recording the trial as it is a) news; b) has direct impact on how I and others will be able to report on this case.
Below is the motion related to the journal entry (I was able to get it my emailing the court clerk requesting it). This is the motion the judge will rule on Friday.
Questions for students:
Court records can include A LOT of court speak and legal language. List two ways you would work to understand or check what you think you are reading if you were reporting on this? Hint: Who might you call? What organizations/people may be able to help you decipher the language?
Sign into the Pike County court system and into this case file. Find the journal entry for Aug. 13, 2019 and tell me: Who was in court that day, how many motions did the judge rule on and what action did the judge set and for what day?
What questions do you have for me?
Court records look very tricky to understand since they use their own language in those documents. I remember you talking about how we go to the people who make things work in the courts because they have no stakes in what happens in the case. For example, those people would include the court clerks and liaisons. I would try to get my own understanding of what I am reading first and then confirm with someone who does work in the courts if I am right or not. I can also see using the internet as an easy way and I bet there is a credible website out there to help decipher documents.
On August 13, 2019, George Wagner IV himself…
Checking with the court clerks or the court liaison are ways I would try to comprehend or confirm what I thought I was reading. Even though it might not technically be part of their job description, I believe that they would be able to read the court documents and stop the speaker if they could assist you in finding specific court documents or had the capacity to transmit them to you. The internet might be used as another resource for deciphering court records. A glossary with certain words in it may have been put up on the internet if there are one or two terms that apply to all courts. Some may have been specified in a court section of…
The easiest way to decipher all the legal talk would probably be just to use the internet. We have every definition and endless information at our fingertips, and simply just searching up terms could probably answer a lot of questions I have faster than any other way. Another good way to check what I was reading would be to ask the law clerks as they often are very familiar with the phrases and words used.
On August 13, 2019 George Wagner IV was present with his lawyers, Charles H. Knight and Richard M. Nash Jr. The state of Ohio was represented by Rob Junk and Angela Canepa. Special Agent Muford was also present. The judge ruled on six motions. The…
Two ways I would work to understand or check what I think I was reading is to check with the court clerks or court liaison. If they can help you find specific court documents or have the ability to send them to you I feel like they would know how to read the documents and interrupt what they are saying, even if that may not be in their technical job description. Another resource for understanding court documents could be the internet. If there is a word or two that is a broad across all courts the internet may have a glossary put together that has some words in it. The AP Stylebook may have also defined some in a court…
Court records can include A LOT of court speak and legal language. List two ways you would work to understand or check what you think you are reading if you were reporting on this? Hint: Who might you call? What organizations/people may be able to help you decipher the language?
I might use the court clerks as a resource to help me understand the legal language of court records. I'm not sure if their job duties include helping people with legal terminology, but I'm assuming they're knowledgeable about court documents and what they mean. Another way I might try to decipher court language is by just searching the terms on Google. I know the United States Courts website has a…