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Northern District Court of Ohio Closed to the Public Until May 1

Client Alert

In order to protect the public health, and in order to reduce the size of public gatherings and reduce unnecessary travel, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio hereby issues the following order effective immediately:

ALL COURTHOUSES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, SHALL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL MAY 1, 2020. ONLY PERSONS HAVING OFFICIAL BUSINESS AUTHORIZED BY THIS GENERAL ORDER OR BY A PRESIDING JUDGE, INCLUDING CREDENTIALED MEDIA, MAY ENTER COURTHOUSE PROPERTY. THIS APPLIES TO ALL DIVISIONAL LOCATIONS.

The Clerk’s Office intake windows will be closed. Electronic filings may still be made through the CM/ECF system. For those without access to CM/ECF, documents may be submitted by mail, or in the event of an emergency, may be submitted by email to: EmergencyFiling@ohnd.uscourts.gov.

Clerk’s Office staff will be available by telephone from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each business day as follows:

Akron: (330) 252-6020
Cleveland: (216) 357-7011
Toledo: (419) 213-5521
Youngstown: (330) 884-7420

Click here to read the full order.


Pre and Postnuptial Agreements | Necessary, Maybe, What Happened to Forever?

Both Florida and Ohio now allow clients to enter into a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement prior to marriage or after marriage (Ohio previously did not allow postnuptial agreements). Both documents have statutory guidelines that must be followed in terms of execution and financial disclosure.

DHS Ends All Employment Authorization Auto-Extensions

Effective October 30, 2025, DHS ends all automatic work authorization renewals. The 540-day extension applies only to renewals filed before this date, and there is no grace period for expired EADs filed on or after October 30. Employers must audit EADs, train staff, ensure I-9 compliance, and plan for work authorization gaps. Penalties for noncompliance can be severe.

CMS’s Rural Health Funding Announcement

CMS has announced a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes in rural communities. All states are eligible to apply for funding by November 5, 2025. Half of the funds will be distributed equally, with the remainder based on state-specific factors. The program supports evidence-based initiatives, workforce recruitment, and access to treatment services, with awards assessed annually

Expanding Access to Care: Ohio’s Effort to Modernize APRN Practice Through Ohio SB 258 and HB 508

Ohio is moving to expand access to healthcare through Senate Bill 258 and House Bill 508, which would modernize APRN practice by removing the outdated requirement for a physician contract. This change would allow nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists to provide care more efficiently, especially in underserved areas, while maintaining high-quality, cost-effective care.

Cleveland Joins the Pay Transparency Movement: What Employers Need to Know

Beginning October 27, 2025, all Cleveland employers with 15 or more employees will be prohibited from asking applicants about their pay history and will be required to include reasonable pay ranges in all job postings where the position will be performed, solicited, considered, or processed in Cleveland. The ordinance is intended to help close the gender wage gap and promote greater pay equity across the city.