State ex rel. White v. Woods

2018 Ohio 2954
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 26, 2018
Docket17AP-620
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 2018 Ohio 2954 (State ex rel. White v. Woods) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. White v. Woods, 2018 Ohio 2954 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

[Cite as State ex rel. White v. Woods, 2018-Ohio-2954.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

State of Ohio ex rel. Marcus D. White, :

Relator, :

v. : No. 17AP-620

Judge William H. Woods, : (REGULAR CALENDAR)

Respondent. :

D E C I S I O N

Rendered on July 26, 2018

On brief: Marcus D. White, pro se.

On brief: Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Arthur J. Marziale, Jr., for respondent.

IN MANDAMUS/PROCEDENDO ON OBJECTIONS TO THE MAGISTRATE'S DECISION DORRIAN, J. {¶ 1} Relator,1 Marcus D. White, an inmate of the Warren Correctional Institution ("WCI"), requests a writ of mandamus and/or procedendo ordering respondent, the Honorable William H. Woods, a judge of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas ("respondent") to issue a final appealable order in Franklin C.P. No. 03CR-7014, which complies with R.C. 2505.02 and Crim.R. 32(C). Respondent requests this court dismiss the action. {¶ 2} Pursuant to Civ.R. 53 and Loc.R. 13(M) of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, the writ of mandamus/procedendo action was referred to a magistrate of this court. The magistrate issued the attached decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law,

1Marcus D. White is the relator in this case; however, in prior cases discussed herein, he was the appellant. For ease of discussion, we refer to him hereafter as "White." No. 17AP-620 2

and recommended this court grant respondent's motion to dismiss. The magistrate reasoned the original action is barred because White had a plain and adequate remedy at law which he exercised in his appeal to this court in State v. White, 10th Dist. No. 17AP- 538, 2017-Ohio-8750 ("White IV").2 {¶ 3} The criteria for granting mandamus was outlined by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State ex rel. Priest v. Dankof, 143 Ohio St.3d 82, 2015-Ohio-165, ¶ 2. "To obtain a writ of mandamus, [relator] must establish a clear legal right to the requested relief, a clear legal duty on the part of [respondent] to grant it, and the lack of an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law." State ex rel. Waters v. Spaeth, 131 Ohio St.3d 55, 2012-Ohio- 69, ¶ 6. In order to be entitled to a writ of procedendo, a relator must establish a clear legal right to require that court to proceed, a clear legal duty on the part of the court to proceed, and the lack of an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. State ex rel. Miley v. Parrott, 77 Ohio St.3d 64, 65 (1996). A writ of procedendo is appropriate when a court has either refused to render a judgment or has unnecessarily delayed proceeding to judgment. Id. {¶ 4} White has filed objections to the magistrate's decision. In his objections, White argues the trial court never issued a final appealable order in common pleas case No. 03CR-7014 and, therefore, the appellate court had no jurisdiction to make a ruling in White IV and all prior appellate rulings related to common pleas case No. 03CR-7014 are nullities. Pursuant to White, he could never have an adequate remedy at law by way of appeal because there can be no appeal without a final appealable order that complies with R.C. 2505.02 and Crim.R. 32(C). {¶ 5} In his complaint for mandamus/procedendo, White argued the judgment entry issued in common pleas case No. 03CR-7014 does not comply with Crim.R. 32(C) because: (1) the entry states that White was found guilty of R.C. 2903.02 Murder, although the jury found him not guilty of the same, (2) the entry should have stated that White was found guilty of R.C. 2903.02(B) Felony Murder, and should have stated that felonious assault "to wit: Ms. Green" was the predicate offense of the Felony Murder charge, and (3)

2In this decision, we refer to White's different appeals as we did previously in our decision and memorandum decisions in case No. 17AP-538. No. 17AP-620 3

the entry did not sentence White or notify him of post-release control for the offense of felonious assault "to wit: Ms. Green." {¶ 6} According to White, the sentencing entry fails to set forth the fact of conviction as required by Crim.R. 32(C).3 He further argues that, although the trial court's entry denying his motion to vacate in 20124 explains the fact of his conviction for felony murder pursuant to R.C. 2903.02(B), State v. Baker, 119 Ohio St.3d 197, 2008-Ohio-3330,5 requires the fact of conviction be evident in one entry, not two. Finally, White argues that because the trial court has previously denied his request for a judgment entry which complies with Crim.R. 32(C), pursuant to our ruling in State v. Bonner, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-611, 2015-Ohio-1010, the appropriate remedy for him is to seek mandamus or procedendo to compel the trial court to issue a compliant sentencing entry. {¶ 7} Respondent did not file a memorandum contra White's objections. However, in moving to dismiss, respondent argued White is attempting to achieve postconviction relief beyond the time allotted to him pursuant to statute. Respondent noted White was resentenced on October 20, 2006 in common pleas case No. 03CR-7014, and that now, nearly 11 years later, he cannot seek to have his sentence modified. Respondent argued further that res judicata applies because White did not seek appeal of his October 20, 2006 resentencing or timely file a postconviction petition. {¶ 8} We agree with the magistrate that with this original action, White is relitigating the same assignment of error he litigated in his appeal to this court in White IV.

3 When the original judgment entry (Aug. 4, 2005) and the re-sentencing entry (Oct. 24, 2006) were entered in common pleas case No. 03CR-7014, Crim.R. 32(C) required: "A judgment of conviction shall set forth the plea, the verdict, or findings, upon which each conviction is based, and the sentence." (Fn. omitted.) State v. Lester, 130 Ohio St.3d 303, 2011-Ohio-5204, ¶ 8. Crim.R. 32(C) was subsequently amended and now requires: "A judgment of conviction shall set forth the fact of conviction and the sentence."

4 In denying White's September 13, 2012 motion to vacate, the trial court noted "[f]inally, the jury found the

Defendant guilty of the lesser included offense in Count One of Murder 2903.02(B). They specifically found the predicate offense to be Felonious Assault [R.C.] 2903.11." (Common pleas case No. o3CR-7014 Dec. and Entry Denying Deft.'s Mot. to Vacate.) This court affirmed the trial court's denial in State v. White, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-1055, 2013-Ohio-2217 ("White III"). White filed an application for reconsideration yet did not address therein the Baker arguments he raises now. (See June 6, 2013 App. for Recon. in White III.) White appealed to the Supreme Court our denial of his application to reconsider but did not appeal our decision entered May 30, 2013 in White III. The Supreme Court declined jurisdiction on the appeal of application to reconsider.

5 Baker at ¶ 19 states "the judgment of conviction is a single document." No. 17AP-620 4

White's assignment of error in White IV was difficult to decipher. He made numerous arguments that the indictment in the case was deficient.6 White also, however, argued: Thus, Appellant's direct appeal subsequent to that void judgment is equally void, and it is as if the direct appeal never occurred. Further, the Appellant's Judgment Entry is void on its face, because it fails to set forth the fact of conviction. When 1) it states Appellant was convicted of "§2903.02 Murder", a charge Appellant was found not guilty of. When the Trial Court instructed the jury on Aggravated Murder (A) (purposely w/prior) and Appellant was acquitted, Murder (A) (purposely) and Appellant was acquitted, and Murder (B) (proximate result) which Appellant was illegally convicted. 2) fails to state the unindicted count of Felonious Assault to wit: Ms.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2018 Ohio 2954, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-white-v-woods-ohioctapp-2018.