The latest news, practice pointers and resources for Ohio appellate law
Update: On November 5, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Mason’s cert. petition
On April 18, 2018, the Supreme Court of Ohio handed down a merit decision in State v. Mason, 2018-Ohio-1462. In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Fischer, with two appellate judges subbing for Justices O’Donnell and O’Neill, the Court upheld…
Update: On April 18, 2018, the Supreme Court of Ohio handed down a merit decision in this case. Read the analysis here.
“Does it matter that in Ohio if the jury had not recommended death, the trial court would have no authority to impose death?”
Justice French, to defense counsel
On January 23, 2018, the…
Update: On March 16, 2016, the Supreme Court of Ohio handed down a merit decision in State v. Broom. Read the analysis of that decision here.
Read the analysis of the oral argument here.
On June 9, 2015, the Supreme Court of Ohio will hear oral argument in the case of State of Ohio v. …
Update: This case was sent back for resentencing. Read what happened on remand here.
On December 3, 2014, the Supreme Court of Ohio handed down a merit decision in State v. Herring, 2014-Ohio-5228. In a 4-3 opinion written by Justice Paul Pfeifer, the court granted Herring’s petition for post-conviction relief in this death penalty…
When Justice Bill O’Neill joined the Court January 2, 2013, he wasted no time in making clear his opposition to the death penalty. On January 25, 2013, O’Neill dissented from the order of execution in the case of State v. Wogenstahl, 2013-Ohio-164. He wrote,
“While I recognize that capital punishment is the law of the…
Update: On December 3, 2014, the Supreme Court of Ohio handed down a merit decision in this case. Read the analysis here.
On April 29, 2014, the Supreme Court of Ohio heard oral argument in the case of State of Ohio v. Willie Herring, 2011-0451. At issue in this case is whether, in…
Update: On December 3, 2014, the Supreme Court of Ohio handed down a merit decision in this case. Read the analysis here.
Read the analysis of the oral argument here.
On April 29, 2014, the Supreme Court of Ohio will hear oral argument in the case of State of Ohio v. Willie Herring, 2011-0451…
Update: Ohio Attorney General DeWine appealed the stay of execution order in the Lorraine case to the U.S. Supreme Court. On February 8, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to lift the stay of execution.
As I have previously written here and here, Justice Paul Pfeifer has really stepped up his public criticism of Ohio’s…
The Supreme Court of Ohio has now set two execution dates in death penalty cases. In the first of these, State v. Philips, case number 94-2208, the order was signed by Justice Paul Pfeifer as acting Chief Justice, because Maureen O’Connor was once involved as a prosecutor in this case. Justice Pfeifer is the senior…
