Justia Civil Rights Opinion Summaries

Relator requested public records from the City of South Euclid and its employee (together, South Euclid) for, inter alia, financial records associated with several city-owned properties. South Euclid sent some, but not all, of the requested records. Relator later filed this action seeking a writ of mandamus and statutory damages under the public-records act, alleging that South Euclid only partially responded to her requests and did not produce the records that she did receive within a reasonable period of time. The Supreme Court issued a writ of mandamus ordering that responsive records be produced if they exist and have not yet been produced and awarded costs and statutory damages in the amount of $600 to Relator, holding that South Euclid took an unreasonable amount of time producing some records responsive to Relator’s request. View "State ex rel. DiFranco v. City of S. Euclid" on Justia Law

Defendant pled guilty to one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor who was over thirteen but less than sixteen years of age. Defendant, who was twenty-one years old when he committed the offense, was designated a Tier II sex offender/child-victim offender and was required to register with the county sheriff and to verify his residence address every 180 days for twenty-five years. Defendant appealed, arguing that the Tier II sex-offender requirements imposed upon him violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The court of appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the registration and address-verification requirements for Tier II offenders under Ohio Rev. Code 2950 do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. View "State v. Blankenship" on Justia Law

Defendant was found guilty of two counts of aggravated murder and six counts of attempted murder. Defendant was sentenced to death. On appeal, the Supreme Court reversed Defendant’s convictions, vacated the death sentence, and remanded for a new trial. After a new jury was convened, Defendant was convicted on all charges and specifications and again sentenced to death. The Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentence of death, holding (1) no error occurred in the selection and removal of jury members; (2) the trial court did not make erroneous evidentiary rulings that denied him a fair trial; (3) the trial court did not err in its instructions to the jury; (4) the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; (5) no prejudicial error occurred during the penalty phase; (6) the prosecutor did not commit misconduct during either the guilt phase or penalty phase of trial; (7) Defendant’s counsel provided effective assistance during both phases of trial; and (8) Defendant’s death sentence was appropriate and proportional. View "State v. Dean" on Justia Law