Your Electronic Device and Ohio's Public Records and Open Meetings Acts

This event qualifies for 1.5 CLE, ICRM

Understand personal electronic devices and how to stay compliant with Ohio's Public Records and Open Meetings Act.

Since the introduction of the first commercially available mobile phone and personal computers in the 1980s, personal and business use of these electronic devices has grown exponentially. With the ability to do more work on our electronic devices comes public officials' responsibility to remember the requirements of Ohio's Public Records and Open Meetings Acts. While the law has not kept pace with the technology and the courts have not specifically addressed all the uses of personal electronic devices, this topic will explore how the use of electronic devices might cause the unwary to run afoul of the law. Learn strategies to ensure that public officials and employees are complying with the laws.

Learning Objectives

- You will be able to describe how to use and not use electronic devices in an open meeting.

- You will be able to recognize when using an electronic device might implicate Public Records and Open Meetings requirements.

- You will be able to discuss how public officials should treat public records on their personal electronic devices.

- You will be able to explain what an electronic record is under Ohio's Public Records Act.

Speaker and Presenter Information

Maryellen K. Corbett

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Attorney with Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
Practices in the Public Law & Finance and the Government Relations & Legislation practice groups
Provides counsel to state-level authorities and other agencies of state government, municipalities, port authorities, counties, townships and special districts on various matters, with an emphasis in the areas of general governmental finance, conduit finance and economic development
Represents municipalities regarding a variety of matters including ordinance drafting and compliance
Well versed in public records and open meetings law, wrote on the topic including the articles “Your Electronic Device and Ohio’s Public Records and Open Meetings Acts” and “New Open Meetings Exception for Economic Development Applications Becomes Effective"
Calfee’s Public Law & Finance practice is recognized as a leader in the field by Best Lawyers / Best Law Firms
J.D. degree, Wake Forest University School of Law; B.A. degree, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Can be contacted at 614-621-7754 or mcorbett@calfee.com