State v. Westendorf, Unpublished Decision (3-7-2003)
State v. Westendorf, Unpublished Decision (3-7-2003)
Concurring Opinion
{¶ 10} The Legislative Service Commission summary of the bill states that it would not apply in this instance. We might assume that the summary is what most legislators read. So what they thought they were passing is what is described in the summary. But what theyactually passed was the law itself.
{¶ 11} Everyone involved with this case must know that this result is unfortunate, and obviously not what the legislature intended. But we cannot look to legislative intent — a risky proposition at any time — unless the law is ambiguous. It is not ambiguous. There is no ambiguity in "no." We must follow the law as written.
{¶ 12} Perhaps the lesson here is that laws should be read before being passed.
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} The state's first assignment of error, which alleges that the trial court erred in granting Westendorf's application because the trial court had no jurisdiction to seal the record of his conviction, is sustained.
{¶ 3} R.C.
{¶ 4} Westendorf pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor. The victim of his crime was his three-year-old daughter. R.C.
{¶ 5} Westendorf argues that the legislature did not intend R.C.
{¶ 6} The section of the Legislative Service Commission's analysis entitled "Operation of the Act" states, "The act expands the provision that specifies certain categories and types of convictions to which the conviction records sealing provisions never apply. Under the act, in addition to the categories and types of offenses specified under continuing law, the conviction record sealing provisions also do notapply to the following convictions * * *: (1) [c]onvictions of an offense of violence when the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree or a felony and when the offense is not riot and is not assault, inciting to violence, or inducing panic that is a misdemeanor of the first degree; (2) [c]onvictions of an offense in circumstances in which the victim ofthe offense was under 18 years of age when the offense is a misdemeanorof the first degree or a felony; (3) [c]onvictions of a felony of the first or second degree." (Emphasis ours.)
{¶ 7} The Legislative Service Commission's "Act Summary" appears to support Westendorf's argument that R.C.
{¶ 8} The second assignment of error, which alleges that the trial court erred in granting the application because Westendorf's interest in sealing the record of conviction was outweighed by a legitimate governmental need to maintain the record, is subsumed in our disposition of the first assignment of error and is sustained solely for the reason that the trial court had no jurisdiction to seal the record of Westendorf's conviction.
{¶ 9} Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is reversed.
Sundermann, J., concurs.
Painter, P.J., concurs separately.
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