DeRolph v. State

699 N.E.2d 518, 83 Ohio St. 3d 1212

Opinions

On Inquiries from the Perry County Court of Common Pleas, No. 22043.

In the within cause, Judge Linton D. Lewis, Jr. has propounded to the court the following two matters:

“1. This Court seeks clarification of the Supreme Court’s order of March 24, 1997 [78 Ohio St.3d 193, 677 N.E.2d 733], as to whether the remand in the case at bar includes both the issues of equal protection and the thorough and efficient clause of the State Constitution.

“2. This Court seeks further clarification as to the proper party to bear the burden of production, burden of proof and the related issues of the standard of proof and test to be applied.”

The court responds to the foregoing inquiries as follows:

1. The remand involves the Thorough and Efficient Clause of the Ohio Constitution and not the Equal Protection Clause.

2. The state has the burden of production and proof and must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the constitutional mandates have been satisfied.

Wherefore, the court having fully responded, the trial court is instructed to proceed.

F.E. Sweeney and Pfeifer, JJ., concur in Responses 1 and 2. Douglas and Resnick, JJ., concur in part with Response 1 and concur in Response 2. Moyer, C.J., Cook and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur in Response 1 and dissent to Response 2.