Case Title: State ex rel. Jells v. Cleveland

Citation: 1993-Ohio-108

Docket Number: 19930206

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 1993-10-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
OPINIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO                               
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Thomas J. Moyer.                                                                 
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The State of Ohio ex rel. Jells, Appellee, v. City of Cleveland                  
et al., Appellants.                                                              
[Cite as State ex rel. Jells v. Cleveland (1993),       Ohio                     
St.3d         .]                                                                 
Public records -- Witness statements from aggravated murder                      
     conviction case not exempt as "trial preparation records"                   
     under R.C. 149.43.                                                          
     (No. 93-206 -- Submitted August 16, 1993 -- Decided                         
October 6, 1993.)                                                                
     Appeal from the Court of Appeals for Cuyahoga County, No.                   
62678.                                                                           
     In 1987, a three-judge panel convicted relator-appellee,                    
Reginald Jells, of aggravated murder and two counts of                           
kidnapping and sentenced Jells to death.  We affirmed.  State                    
v. Jells (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 22, 559 N.E.2d 464, certiorari                    
denied, Jells v. Ohio (1991), 498 U.S 1111, 111 S.Ct. 1020, 112                  
L.Ed.2d 1101.                                                                    
     In 1991, Jells' counsel requested that Cleveland officials                  
release all records relating to the offenses for which Jells                     
was convicted.  Later, Jells petitioned the court of appeals                     
for a writ of mandamus under R.C. 149.43 against the city of                     
Cleveland and Cleveland's mayor, police chief, and safety                        
director (herein "city").  The city released some documents,                     
and the court of appeals, after inspecting the records in                        
camera,  ordered more records released.                                          
     The city now appeals the decision of the court of appeals                   
as a matter of right.                                                            
                                                                                 
     James Kura, Ohio Public Defender, JoAnn M. Bour-Stokes and                  
Joseph E. Wilhelm, Assistant Public Defenders, for appellee.                     
     Danny R. Williams, Law Director, and Pamela A. Pfleger                      
Walker, Assistant Law Director, for appellants.                                  
                                                                                 
     Per Curiam.  The court of appeals did not abuse its                         
discretion in finding particular witness statements not exempt                   
as trial preparation records.  See State ex rel. Williams v.                     
Cleveland (1992), 64 Ohio St.3d 544, 597 N.E.2d 147; State ex                    
rel. Coleman v. Cincinnati (1991), 57 Ohio St.3d 83, 566 N.E.2d                  
151.                                                                             
     Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeals is                        
affirmed.                                                                        
                                                                                 
                                    Judgment affirmed.                           
     Moyer, C.J., A.W. Sweeney, Douglas, Wright,  Resnick and                    
Pfeifer, JJ., concur.                                                            
     F.E. Sweeney, J., not participating.