State v. Krichbaum, 07 Ma 61 (6-15-2007)
State v. Krichbaum, 07 Ma 61 (6-15-2007)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} Relator Anthony L. Williams has filed a petition for writ of mandamus against Respondent Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas. Relator seeks to compel Respondent to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law relative to the dismissal of his petition for postconviction relief. However, Relator has not alleged facts that show a clear legal duty exists requiring the trial court to provide findings and fact and conclusions of law. Relator also has a plain and adequate remedy at law by way of direct appeal, and he is in fact pursuing that remedy. Therefore, Relator is not entitled to extraordinary relief in mandamus and this petition is hereby dismissed.{¶ 2} Relator was convicted in 1998 of aggravated murder in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas Case No. 97 CR 925. The conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal. State v. Williams (Mar. 20, 2000), 7th Dist. No. 98 CA 74. Years later, Relator filed a delayed petition for postconviction relief in the matter pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 3} To be entitled to a writ of mandamus, a relator must establish that he or she has a clear legal right to the relief sought, that the respondent has a clear legal duty to perform the requested act, and that the relator has no plain and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. State ex rel. Luna v. Huffman (1996),
{¶ 4} Respondent has filed a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss the petition for writ of mandamus. Dismissal under Civ.R. 12(B)(6) is appropriate if, after all factual allegations are presumed true and all reasonable inferences are made in Relator's favor, it appears beyond doubt that there are no set of facts that could warrant the requested extraordinary relief in mandamus. State ex rel. Talwar v. State Med. Bd.of Ohio,
{¶ 5} Relator contends that mandamus is appropriate because a trial court must file findings of fact and conclusions of law when dismissing any petition for postconviction relief. Relator is incorrect. Findings of fact and conclusions of law are required only if the petition for postconviction relief is a timely petition filed pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 6} Relator's mandamus petition alleges that he filed his petition for postconviction relief pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 7} The Ohio Supreme Court has, "consistently held that trial courts have no duty to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law on second and successive petitions for postconviction relief filed pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 8} The above cases support that conclusion that a trial judge has no duty to provide findings of fact and conclusions of law when dismissing an untimely petition for postconviction relief pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 9} It is also clear that the issue raised, that is, whether a trial court should have provided findings of fact and conclusions of law as part of its dismissal of a R.C.
{¶ 10} If this had been a case in which the trial court failed to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law in a timely first petition for postconviction relief, courts have held that the dismissal order is not final and appealable until the findings and conclusions are filed, and such appeals are regularly dismissed for lack of a final appealable order. State ex rel. Ferrell v. Clark (1984),
{¶ 11} Relator has no legal right to mandamus relief. Respondent has no duty to provide Relator relief he seeks and Relator has a plain and adequate remedy by way of direct appeal. Therefore, this petition for writ of mandamus is hereby dismissed.
{¶ 12} Costs taxed against Relator. Final order. Clerk to serve notice as provided by the Civil Rules.
*Page 1Waite, J., concurs, Vukovich, J., concurs, DeGenaro, P.J., concurs.
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