Concord Twp. attorney to serve as grand jury foreman

Concord Township attorney Russell J. Meraglio is serving as grand jury foreman for the Lake County Common Pleas Court for a three-month term beginning in July.

Meraglio was appointed by Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O’Donnell for the term that runs through September.

He is an attorney, shareholder and co-practice chair of the Trust, Estate and Pronate Litigation Section of Reminger Co., LPA.

According to a news release from the Common Pleas Court, Meraglio is frequently called on to handle disputes between nextof-kin, beneficiaries, guardians and executors regarding will contests, joint with rights of survivors or payable on death disputes, transfer on death beneficiary disputes, guardianship appointments/terminations, and any and all cases regarding a probate or non-probate financial misuse regarding a decedent or elder clients.

The grand jury consists of nine members and five alternates. The remaining jurors will be selected June 29. They meet weekly and additional meetings may be scheduled depending on the level of alleged criminal activity in the county.

They are tasked with two responsibilities: protect innocent persons from needless accusations and to assure that evidence against the accused is considered fairly.

Throughout the threemonth term, the grand jury hears cases and decides whether the accused should be placed on trial for alleged criminal offenses, which are usually felonies.

They conduct themselves in secrecy and its authority is independent from the Lake County Prosecutor. The grand jury has the authority to launch an original investigation as its own action, and serves as a form of “checks and balances” on the prosecution and law enforcement.

Among its duties is to inspect and report on conditions in the county jail.

The grand jury does not decide on the guilt or innocence of an accused person. Its function is to make certain there is a sound basis for the charges made. The purpose is to prevent unjust accusations. If a person is charged by the grand jury, guilt or innocence is determined at a later trial by a petit jury.

According to the news release, Meraglio has been invited to speak on behalf of many organizations on issues ranging from probate administration to undue influence and incompetency claims to guardianships and guardianship litigations.

Those groups include the Ohio State Bar Association, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Lake County Bar Association, National Business Institute, Sterling Institute and Cleveland Marshall College of Law.

In a statement, O’Donnell said he appreciates Meraglio’s service, as well as the service of the soon-to-beselected jurors.

Meraglio