Title: State ex rel. Smith v. Columbus

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

OPINIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO                               
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Thomas J. Moyer.                                                                 
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The State ex rel. Smith, Appellant, v. City of Columbus et al.,                  
Appellees.                                                                       
[Cite as State ex rel. Smith v. Columbus (1993),      Ohio                       
St.3d     .]                                                                     
Mandamus to compel DNA testing of convicted rapist who does not                  
     advance any argument or authority for this claimed                          
     constitutional right under Due Process and Equal                            
     Protection Clauses to such testing -- Writ denied, when --                  
     Vague allegations of denial of due process or equal                         
     protection are not sufficient to establish a clear right                    
     or duty for purpose of a writ of mandamus.                                  
     (No. 92-2601 -- Submitted March 9, 1993 -- Decided May 19,                  
1993.)                                                                           
     Appeal from the Court of Appeals for Franklin County, No.                   
91AP-1160.                                                                       
                                                                                 
     Walter D. Smith, pro se.                                                    
     Ronald J. O'Brien, City Attorney, for appellee city of                      
Columbus.                                                                        
     Michael Miller, Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney, and                   
Scott T. Zalenski, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for                           
appellees Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County and Franklin                  
County Clerk of Courts.                                                          
                                                                                 
     Per Curiam.  Appellant, Walter D. Smith, was convicted of                   
rape and other felonies.  He filed a complaint for a writ of                     
mandamus seeking certain public records.  He subsequently made                   
a request for DNA testing.  The court of appeals granted                         
respondents-appellees' motions for summary judgment, holding                     
that appellees, the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County,                    
the clerk of such court, and the city of Columbus, had                           
satisfied all requests for public records in their possession                    
and that appellant had established no clear right to have                        
appellees conduct DNA testing on his behalf.                                     
     On appeal, appellant raises only the issue of DNA                           
testing.  He claims a constitutional right under the Due                         
Process and Equal Protection Clauses to such testing, but does                   
not advance any argument or authority for this supposed right,                   
or explain how appellees have a clear duty to provide the                        
alleged right.  Vague allegations of denial of due process or                    
equal protection are not sufficient to establish a clear right                   
or duty for purpose of a writ of mandamus.  This court has                       
previously dismissed such issues as if they were not briefed.                    
See State ex rel. Brooks v. Trans World Airlines, Inc. (1990),                   
53 Ohio St.3d 713, 560 N.E.2d 772.                                               
     Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeals is                        
affirmed.                                                                        
                                    Judgment affirmed.                           
     Moyer, C.J., A.W. Sweeney, Douglas, Wright,  Resnick, F.E.                  
Sweeney and Pfeifer, JJ., concur.