Court Opinion

ID: 4361276
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-23 22:19:14.410774+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:20:39.383516
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State ex re.l Jenkins v. Belmont Cty. Common Pleas Court, 2019-Ohio-206.]

             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                             SEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  BELMONT COUNTY

                                   STATE EX REL. JENKINS,

                                                 Relator,

                                                     v.

                  BELMONT COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT,

                                             Respondent.

                        OPINION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                         Case No. 18 BE 0038

                                          Writ of Procedendo

                                          BEFORE:
                  Kathleen Bartlett, Gene Donofrio, Carol Ann Robb, Judges.

                                              JUDGMENT:
                                              DISMISSED

Albert Jenkins, Pro-se, A-599-783, P.O. Box 540, Saint Clairsville, Ohio 43950, for
Relator.

Atty. Daniel P. Fry, Courthouse Annex No. 1, 147-A West Main Street, St. Clairsville,
Ohio 43950, for Respondent and

                                       Dated: January 18, 2019
                                                                                        –2–

PER CURIAM.

       {¶1}   This matter is before the Court pursuant to the “WRIT AND MOTION FOR
PROCEDENDO” filed by Relator Albert Jenkins against Respondent Belmont County
Common Pleas Court requesting we order Respondent to provide him copies of the
original papers and transcripts stemming from his criminal conviction in that court.
Despite the absence of a response from Respondent to Relator’s writ/motion, we sua
sponte dismiss Relator’s writ/motion.
       {¶2}   In 2009, Relator pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of child under the
age of thirteen, violations of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b) (first-degree felonies), and one count
of complicity to rape of a child under the age of thirteen, a violation of R.C. 2907.02
(A)(1)(b) and R.C. 2923.03 (A)(4) (first-degree felony).        The trial court sentenced
Relator to an aggregate eighteen-year term of imprisonment.            A few months later,
Relator filed a petition for postconviction relief which the trial court overruled.   Relator
did not pursue a timely direct appeal of his conviction and sentence or the denial of his
postconviction relief petition.
       {¶3}   In 2017, this Court overruled Relator’s motion for leave to file a delayed
appeal. State v. Jenkins, 7th Dist. No. 17 BE 0050 (Dec. 28, 2017 J.E.). In his present
motion/writ, he is asking that we order Respondent to provide him copies of all of the
original papers and transcripts leading up to his 2009 conviction and sentence in order
for him to pursue a federal habeas corpus action.
       {¶4}   Initially, we note Relator’s motion is improperly captioned. An application
for a writ of procedendo must be by petition, in the name of the state on the relation of
the person applying. State ex rel. Clay v. Gee, 138 Ohio St.3d 151, 2014-Ohio-48, 4
N.E.3d 1026, ¶ 1, fn. 1. Relying on the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in Maloney v.
Court of Common Pleas of Allen Cty., 173 Ohio St. 226, 227, 181 N.E.2d 270 (1962),
some appellate districts have concluded that a petition for an extraordinary writ may be
sua sponte dismissed when it is improperly captioned. Hill v. Kelly, 11th Dist. No. 2011-
T-0094, 2011-Ohio-6341, ¶ 4; Turner v. State, 8th Dist. No. 94292, 2010-Ohio-683, at ¶
2, citing Maloney v. Court of Common Pleas of Allen Cty., 173 Ohio St. 226, 227, 181

Case No. 18 BE 0038
                                                                                        –3–

N.E.2d 270 (1962). However, in this instance, we conclude sua sponte dismissal of
Relator’s motion/writ is warranted for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted because it is frivolous or he obviously cannot prevail on the facts alleged in the
motion/writ. State ex rel. Thompson v. Spon, 83 Ohio St.3d 551, 553, 1998-Ohio-298,
700 N.E.2d 1281.
       {¶5}   “[P]rocedendo is an extraordinary remedy which is to be exercised with
caution and only when the right is clear. It should not be used in doubtful cases.”
(Citation omitted.) Pankey v. Mahoning Cty. Court of Common Pleas, 7th Dist. No. 13
MA 27, 2013-Ohio-1617, ¶ 2. To be entitled to a writ of procedendo, “a relator must
establish a clear legal right to require the court to proceed, a clear legal duty on the part
of the court to proceed, and the lack of an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of
law.” State ex rel. Miley v. Parrott, 77 Ohio St.3d 64, 65, 671 N.E.2d 24 (1996).
       {¶6}   Concerning copies of the original papers and transcripts, the only duty
owed to an indigent criminal defendant is that the record and transcript(s) of
proceedings, if any, be prepared, assembled by the clerk of courts and forwarded to the
court of appeals on direct appeal. State ex rel. Greene v. Enright, 63 Ohio St.3d 729,
590 N.E.2d 1257 (1992). Here, Relator chose not to exercise his right to pursue a
timely appeal of his conviction and sentence. Therefore, he has waived any right to
copies of those original papers and transcripts at state expense. And Respondent is
under no duty to provide Relator with copies to pursue a federal habeas corpus action.
Dunning v. Cleary, 8th Dist. No. 78763, 2001 WL 61077 (Mar. 5, 2008).
       {¶7}   Accordingly, Relator’s complaint for a writ of procedendo is dismissed.
Costs taxed against Relator. Final Order. Clerk to serve notice upon the parties as
provided by the Civil Rules.

Bartlett, J., concurs.

Donofrio, J., concurs.

Robb, J., concurs.

Case No. 18 BE 0038