State v. Getsey

Ohio Supreme Court
State v. Getsey, 82 Ohio St. 3d 1421 (Ohio 1998)
694 N.E.2d 973; 1998 Ohio LEXIS 1573

State v. Getsey

Opinion of the Court

Trumbull C.P. No. 95CR399. This is a death penalty appeal from the Court of Common Pleas of Trumbull County. On October 22, 1996, an order was issued in this case requiring the clerk of the court of common pleas to prepare and transmit the record on appeal, pursuant to Rule XIX of the Supreme Court Rules of Practice. The order and Rule XIX prescribe that the record on appeal shall consist of the following: the original papers and exhibits thereto filed in the trial court; the transcript of proceedings, including exhibits, and computer diskettes of the transcript, if available; and certified copies of the docket and journal entries prepared by the clerk of the trial court. Furthermore, Rule XIX(4)(D) requires that the clerk of the trial court, before transmitting the original record to the Supreme Court, make a copy of the record to be retained for use in any postconviction proceedings. According to Rule XIX(4)(D)(1), a copy of the original papers, transcript of proceedings, and any documentary exhibits shall be made by photocopying the originals; a copy of any physical exhibits may be made by either photographing or videotaping the physical exhibits; a copy of a videotape or audiotape shall be made by making a duplicate videotape or audiotape.

On March 3, 1997, the clerk of the court of common pleas transmitted the record to this court. Instead of submitting the original physical exhibits as required by the order and Rule XIX, the clerk sent photographs, including a photograph of an audio cassette of a 911 call, a photograph of a video cassette of the crime scene, and photographs of photographs.

On September 24, 1997, appellant filed a motion to supplement the record with all of the original exhibits, photographs, audiotapes, videotapes, and physical evidence that were part of the record. This court granted the motion to supplement on October 29,1997 and ordered the clerk of the court of common pleas to certify the supplemental record within ten days.

On November 10, 1997, the clerk of the court of common pleas transmitted a supplemental record. Contrary to this court’s orders and Rule XIX, the clerk again transmitted photographs or photocopies of the exhibits in lieu of the actual exhibits.

IT IS ORDERED by the court, sua aponte, that the clerk of the court of common pleas transmit to the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Ohio, within five days of the date of this order, the original audiotape of the 911 call that is a part of the record in this case or show cause why the clerk of the court of common pleas shall not be held in contempt for failure to comply with this court’s orders.

Reference

Status
Published