US Courts

State v. Hills - Plea Consequences Ruling

The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court's judgment in State v. Hills, ruling that the trial court properly informed the defendant of the consequences of his plea. The court found that the plea was knowingly and intelligently entered, adhering to Crim.R. 11 safeguards.

State v. Kiser - Suppression of Methamphetamine in Parked Car

The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court's decision to overrule a motion to suppress methamphetamine found in a parked car. The court found that the community caretaking exception to the Fourth Amendment justified the officer's actions in opening the car door.

State v. Wright - Appeal Dismissed as Moot

The Ohio Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal in State v. Wright as moot because the appellant had completed his prison sentence. The court cited the completion of the sentence as rendering the assignments of error unaddressable.

In re Adoption of J.T.S. - Probate Court Erred Granting Intervention

The Ohio Court of Appeals reversed a probate court's decision to grant intervention in an adoption proceeding. The appellate court found that the intervenor was not entitled to notice or consent rights under Ohio law, as he had not properly registered as a putative father and no prior judicial determination of parentage existed.

Legacy Real Estate Investing, LLC v. Maldonado Constr., LLC - Sanctions for Interpreter Motion

The Ohio Court of Appeals reversed a trial court's decision to impose $600 in attorney fees as sanctions against an appellant for requesting a Spanish-language interpreter on the morning of trial. The appellate court found no support in the record for the conclusion that the motion was made for delay or caused a delay.

State v. Martin - Alford Plea Acceptance Error

The Ohio Court of Appeals reversed a trial court's judgment, vacating a defendant's attempted murder conviction based on an improperly accepted Alford plea. The court found the trial court failed to establish a sufficient factual basis for the plea by not inquiring into the state's evidence or defense counsel's investigation.

State v. Reams - Conviction Reversed by Ohio Court of Appeals

The Ohio Court of Appeals reversed in part and affirmed in part a trial court's judgment convicting David Reams of reckless operation and failing to stop after an accident. The court found insufficient evidence for the reckless operation conviction but upheld the conviction for failure to stop.

State v. Elston - Consecutive Sentences Not Mandatory

The Ohio Court of Appeals ruled that consecutive sentences were not mandatory for Darryl Elston, reversing a portion of the trial court's judgment. The court found the trial court erroneously imposed consecutive sentences as if they were mandatory under R.C. 2921.331(D) and did not properly inform the appellant at the plea hearing.

In re S.B. - Juvenile Court Grants Permanent Custody

The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed a juvenile court's decision to grant permanent custody of a child to the Agency. The court found the decision was in the child's best interest due to the mother's neglect and the father's minimal engagement, and also considered the child's wish to be adopted by her current placement.

State v. Brown - Public Records Request Denial

The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court's denial of an inmate's public records request. The court found that the inmate failed to demonstrate the materiality of the requested records to any pending proceeding or justiciable claim, upholding the denial under R.C. 149.43(B)(8).