State v. Dean, Unpublished Decision (8-8-2002)
State v. Dean, Unpublished Decision (8-8-2002)
Concurring Opinion
I concur in judgment only and cite to concurring opinions in State v. Thomas (May 13, 1999), Cuyahoga App. Nos. 72536 and 72537, and Garnett v. Garnett (Sept. 16, 1999), Cuyahoga App. No. 75225, at 3-4, and Loc.App.R. 22(C) of this Court which states that:
Opinions of the Court will not identify or make reference by proper name to the trial judge, magistrate * * * unless such reference is essential to clarify or explain the role of such person in the course of said proceedings. (Eff. July 25, 2000).
Opinion of the Court
On March 1, 2001, Dean filed an application to seal the records of her 1980 convictions for theft1 and attempted possession of criminal tools.2 The judge referred the application to the probation department for investigation and, on August 9, 2001, the prosecutor filed objections to the application because Dean had failed to pay the outstanding fines and court costs stemming from the convictions and was ineligible for relief under R.C.
I. A Trial Court Errs in Ruling on a Motion for Expungement Filed Pursuant to R.C.
2953.32 Without First Holding a Hearing.R.C.2953.32 (B) states:
Upon the filing of an application under this section, the court shall set a date for a hearing and shall notify the prosecutor for the case of the hearing on the application. * * *. The relevant language has not changed substantially since the decision in State v. Saltzer,3 which held that the statute required a judge to set a hearing on applications to seal conviction records.4 Although Dean argues that the definition of hearing can include the consideration of written memoranda without oral argument, this cannot be the meaning intended by R.C.
II. A Trial Court Erred [sic] in Granting a Motion to Seal the Record of Conviction When it Is Without Jurisdiction to Grant Said Motion to an Applicant Who Is Not a First Offender.
Unless the record shows a lack of jurisdiction over the defendant's application, the failure to hold a hearing requires remand for further proceedings.6 The record here does not show a lack of jurisdiction, and remand is therefore appropriate.
Judgment reversed and remanded.
It is ordered that the appellant recover from appellee costs herein taxed.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
PATRICIA A. BLACKMON, J., CONCURS JAMES D. SWEENEY, P.J., CONCURS IN JUDGMENT ONLY WITH SEPARATE OPINION.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.