Title: State v. Lester

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as State v. Lester, 121 Ohio St.3d 1209, 2009-Ohio-478.] 
 
 
THE STATE OF OHIO, APPELLANT, v. LESTER, APPELLEE. 
[Cite as State v. Lester, 121 Ohio St.3d 1209, 2009-Ohio-478.] 
Motion to dismiss denied. 
(No. 2008-1725 — Submitted January 13, 2009 — Decided February 10, 2009.) 
APPEAL from the Court of Appeals for Hamilton County, 
No. C-070383, 2008-Ohio-3570. 
ON MOTION TO DISMISS 
__________________ 
{¶ 1} The discretionary appeal in this case was accepted on December 3, 
2008.  120 Ohio St.3d 1416, 2008-Ohio-6166, 897 N.E.2d 652. 
{¶ 2} On December 17, 2008, the Ohio Public Defender filed a motion to 
strike the state's notice of appeal and dismiss the appeal because of the state’s 
failure to serve the notice of appeal on the Ohio Public Defender as required by 
S.Ct.Prac.R. XIV(2)(A)(3), which provides as follows: “In a case involving a 
felony, when a county prosecutor files a notice of appeal under S.Ct.Prac.R. II or 
an order certifying a conflict under S.Ct.Prac.R. IV, the county prosecutor shall 
also serve a copy of the notice or order on the Ohio Public Defender."  The Ohio 
Public Defender asserts that the failure of county prosecutors to comply with 
S.Ct.Prac.R. XIV(2)(A)(3) is a recurring problem that interferes with its ability to 
fully discharge its responsibilities. 
{¶ 3} We note that there was an unquestioned failure by the Hamilton 
County Prosecuting Attorney to comply with the requirements of S.Ct.Prac.R. 
XIV(2)(A)(3) in this case.  We further note that it should not be the responsibility 
of the Ohio Public Defender to monitor compliance with the rule by county 
prosecuting attorneys.  Rather, county prosecuting attorneys have a clear duty to 
comply with S.Ct.Prac.R. XIV(2)(A)(3).  Compliance is not optional. 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
{¶ 4} County prosecuting attorneys and their staffs are on notice that 
failure to comply with the requirements of S.Ct.Prac.R. XIV(2)(A)(3) in the 
future may result in the dismissal of a notice of appeal or a notice of order 
certifying a conflict or other appropriate sanctions. 
{¶ 5} We deny the motion to dismiss in this case.  However, the 
Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney is ordered to serve the notice of appeal on 
the Ohio Public Defender and to notify this court of the date of such service.  The 
Ohio Public Defender may file an amicus brief in support of appellee within the 
time allowed by rule or within 30 days of the date of service of the notice, 
whichever is later. 
MOYER, 
C.J., 
and 
PFEIFER, 
LUNDBERG 
STRATTON, 
O’CONNOR, 
O’DONNELL, LANZINGER, and CUPP, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
 
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Judith 
Anton Lapp, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellant. 
 
Christine Y. Jones, for appellee. 
 
Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Spencer Cahoon, Assistant 
Public Defender, for amicus curiae, Ohio Public Defender. 
______________________