Justia Ohio Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's action seeking a writ of mandamus ordering the trial court to hold a new sentencing hearing, holding that the court of appeals correctly dismissed the mandamus petition.Appellant was convicted of child endangering and felony murder. The trial court merged the offenses and determined that the sentences should run concurrently. Appellant later moved to vacate the "void sentences." The court of appeals concluded that the judgment of conviction was void because only one sentence could be imposed for the merged offenses. On remand, the trial court modified the sentence. Appellant subsequently brought this mandamus action asking the court of appeals to order the trial court to vacate its previous judgment and hold a new sentencing hearing. The court of appeals dismissed the petition. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Appellant's appeal of the modified sentencing order constituted an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. View "State ex rel. Cherry v. Bryant" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the court of appeals upholding Defendant's sentence, holding that a defendant's display of disrespect toward a trial court is not a permissible sentencing factor that the court may consider under Ohio Rev. Code 2929.11 and 2929.12.The trial court in this case increased Defendant's prison sentence by six years in response to Defendant's misbehavior while reacting to the length of a previously-imposed prison sentence. The court of appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) a defendant's outburst or other courtroom misbehavior may not result in an increased sentence for the underlying crime; and (2) the six-year increase in Defendant's sentence was contrary to law. View "State v. Bryant" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's complaint for a writ of habeas corpus against the current prison warden for failing to state a claim upon which relief could be granted, holding that there was no error.Appellant pleaded guilty to several crimes, including two counts of gross sexual imposition and one count of rape. Appellant later filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to accept his plea and sentence him because his competency had been called into question. The court of appeals granted the warden's motion to dismiss. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that habeas corpus will not lie in this case. View "Rance v. Watson" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court granted in part and denied in part a writ of mandamus ordering the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) to provide certain records that Relator requested under the Public Records Act, Ohio Rev. Code 149.43, holding that Relator was entitled to a writ of mandamus compelling DRC to produce inmate master file documents.After Relator's request for documents was denied he commenced this action seeking a writ of mandamus compelling DRC to provide a copy of his inmate master file and all kites, grievances and appeals filed by him through the electronic-kite system. The Supreme Court granted the writ in part, holding (1) Relator failed to show a clear legal right to a writ of mandamus to compel the produce of the grievance-related records; (2) the DRC must produce the requested records; and (3) Relator was entitled to an award of the statutory maximum of $1,000 in damages. View "State ex rel. Mobley v. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's complaint for writs of mandamus and/or procedendo against Franklin County Common Please Court Judge Carl A. Aveni II, holding that mandamus nor procendendo did not lie where Appellant had an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law.Appellant was found guilty of felony murder and felonious assault and sentenced to an aggregate prison term of twenty-five years to life. Appellant later filed the underlying complaint alleging that he was entitled to a new sentencing entry because the sentencing entry did not identify the felony underlying his felony-murder conviction. The court of appeals dismissed the complaint. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Appellant had an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law that he could have pursued in the ordinary course of the law. View "State ex rel. White v. Aveni" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's petition for a writ of habeas corpus, holding that Appellant was not entitled to relief on his allegations of error.Appellant was an adult when a complaint was filed charging him with delinquency in connection with a shooting death that occurred when Appellant was a minor. The juvenile court transferred Appellant to the adult court, where he was convicted of aggravated murder and other crimes. Appellant later filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which the court of appeals dismissed. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) Appellant failed to allege a jurisdictional defect in the juvenile court's transfer of his criminal case to the adult court; and (2) Petitioner had an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. View "State ex rel. Parker v. Black" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgment of the court of appeals granting summary judgment against Appellant, an inmate seeking to compel the clerk of courts to produce certain records under the Public Records Act, Ohio Rev. Code 149.43, holding that the court of appeals erred in rejecting Appellant's statutory-damages claim.Appellant filed a complaint for writ of mandamus alleging that he sent ten public-records requests to the clerk of court, who did not respond. The court of appeals concluded that Appellant was not entitled to relief in mandamus because the only requested record that was subject to the Public Records Act was not properly requested. The Supreme Court reversed in part, holding that the court of appeals erred in its rejection of Appellant's statutory-damages claims on the ground that the requested documents were governed by the Rules of Superintendence. View "State ex rel. Ware v. Kurt" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions for, among other crimes, two counts of aggravated murder with four death-penalty specifications attached to each count and Defendant's sentence of death, holding that there was no reversible error.Specifically, the Supreme Court held (1) Defendant's argument that the Ohio Constitution limits the right to self-representation was not well taken; (2) Defendant failed to show plain error as to his argument that his standby counsel interfered with his trial preparation and strategy; (3) the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; (4) there was no abuse of discretion in jury selection; (5) the court did not admit inadmissible victim-impact testimony from witnesses during the trial phase or commit other reversible evidentiary error; (6) there was no prosecutorial misconduct or ineffective assistance of counsel; and (7) Defendant's remaining assignments of error were unavailing. View "State v. McAlpin" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals denying a writ of mandamus, holding that Appellant did not show that the parole-revocation proceedings violated his constitutional right to due process.Appellant was convicted of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery and was later released on parole. Appellant was subsequently charged with violating the terms of his parole. After a revocation hearing, the parole board approved the hearing officer's recommendation that Appellant be ordered to serve an additional thirty-six months in prison before again becoming eligible for parole. The parole board approved the recommendation. Appellant filed an action for a writ of mandamus alleging that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel and that reversible error occurred during the revocation hearing. The court of appeals denied the writ. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Appellant failed to show that the parole revocation proceedings violated his constitutional right to due process. View "State ex rel. Mango v. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals affirming Defendant's convictions, holding that the judge's comments and questions to witnesses during Defendant's criminal trial did not violate Defendant's right to a fair trial before an impartial judge.After a trial, Defendant was found guilty of felonious assault and associated firearm specifications and of having a weapon while under a disability. The court of appeals affirmed. On appeal, Defendant argued that his due process right to a fair trial was violated because the trial court engaged in questioning that showed bias against him. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Defendant did not carry his burden of establishing a reasonable probability that but for the judge's actions he would not have been found guilty of the charged offenses. View "State v. West" on Justia Law