Ohio Case Commentaries

Montanez v. May (2026-Ohio-90) Commentary

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Habeas Corpus in Ohio Requires a Present Right to Immediate Release: Parole Eligibility Dates and Agency Correspondence Do Not Supplant a Life-Maximum Judgment Case: Montanez v. May, Slip Opinion No....

Attorney-Discipline Sanctions Must Rest on Record Evidence—Counsel’s Arguments Are Not Evidence; Large-Scale Paid Client Referrals Merit a Fully Stayed Suspension with Monitoring

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Attorney-Discipline Sanctions Must Rest on Record Evidence—Counsel’s Arguments Are Not Evidence; Large-Scale Paid Client Referrals Merit a Fully Stayed Suspension with Monitoring 1. Introduction...

Sauter v. Integrity Cycles, L.L.C. (2026-Ohio-88): “Within One Year” in R.C. 2305.19 Means the Anniversary Date (No Extra Day)

Date: Jan 17, 2026

“Within One Year” Under Ohio’s Saving Statute Means the Anniversary Date, Not a Year-Plus-One-Day 1. Introduction In Sauter v. Integrity Cycles, L.L.C., Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-88 (Jan. 15, 2026),...

PUCO’s Exclusive Jurisdiction Extends to Producer Tort Claims Implicating Tariff-Based Gas-Nomination Reconciliation

Date: Jan 17, 2026

PUCO’s Exclusive Jurisdiction Extends to Producer Tort Claims Implicating Tariff-Based Gas-Nomination Reconciliation I. Introduction In E. Ohio Gas Co. v. Croce, Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-75, the...

Unreasonable Delay in Producing Emails Warrants Separate $1,000 Statutory-Damage Awards per Distinct Public-Records Request

Date: Jan 15, 2026

Unreasonable Delay in Producing Emails Warrants Separate $1,000 Statutory-Damage Awards per Distinct Public-Records Request Case: State ex rel. Macksyn v. Spencer, 2026-Ohio-44 Court: Supreme Court...

Random Case-Assignment Manipulation and Undisclosed Conflicts Trigger Presumptive Actual Suspension for Judicial Dishonesty

Date: Jan 15, 2026

Random Case-Assignment Manipulation and Undisclosed Conflicts Trigger Presumptive Actual Suspension for Judicial Dishonesty I. Introduction In Disciplinary Counsel v. Celebrezze, Slip Opinion No....

Shaping Ohio Sentencing and Extraordinary Writ Practice: Commentary on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s December 24, 2025 Case Announcements (2025-Ohio-5682)

Date: Dec 27, 2025

Shaping Ohio Sentencing and Extraordinary Writ Practice: Commentary on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s December 24, 2025 Case Announcements (2025-Ohio-5682) Supreme Court of Ohio – Case Announcements,...

Purchaser’s Initial Receipt Controls CAT Situs: Commentary on VVF Intervest, L.L.C. v. Harris (2025-Ohio-5680)

Date: Dec 27, 2025

Purchaser’s Initial Receipt Controls CAT Situs Even When Goods Are Later Reshipped Out of State Commentary on VVF Intervest, L.L.C. v. Harris, 2025-Ohio-5680 (Supreme Court of Ohio) I. Introduction...

Clarifying Environmental and Economic Evidence Standards for Ohio Solar Siting Certificates: Commentary on In re Application of S. Branch Solar, L.L.C.

Date: Dec 27, 2025

Clarifying Environmental and Economic Evidence Standards for Ohio Solar Siting Certificates: Commentary on In re Application of S. Branch Solar, L.L.C., 2025‑Ohio‑5679 I. Introduction The Supreme...

Using One Ward’s Funds as a “Bridge Loan” for Another Constitutes Misappropriation: Sanctioning Guardians’ Cross‑Account Transfers in Disciplinary Counsel v. Juhola

Date: Dec 27, 2025

Using One Ward’s Funds as a “Bridge Loan” for Another Constitutes Misappropriation: Sanctioning Guardians’ Cross‑Account Transfers in Disciplinary Counsel v. Juhola I. Introduction The Supreme Court...

Z.J. v. R.M. and the Meaning of “Mental Distress” in Ohio’s Menacing-by-Stalking Statute

Date: Dec 27, 2025

Belief in Future Mental Distress as Sufficient Injury Under R.C. 2903.211(A)(1): A Commentary on Z.J. v. R.M., 2025-Ohio-5662 (Supreme Court of Ohio) Introduction In Z.J. v. R.M., 2025-Ohio-5662, the...

Public-Information Officers as Non‑Delegable Records Custodians under Ohio’s Public Records Act: Commentary on State ex rel. Whitfield v. Burkhart

Date: Dec 22, 2025

Public-Information Officers as Non‑Delegable Records Custodians under Ohio’s Public Records Act: Commentary on State ex rel. Whitfield v. Burkhart, 2025‑Ohio‑5612 I. Introduction In State ex rel....

Clarifying Redaction Exemptions and Remedies under Ohio’s Public Records Act: Commentary on State ex rel. Mauk v. Sheldon, 2025-Ohio-5611

Date: Dec 22, 2025

Clarifying Redaction Exemptions and Remedies under Ohio’s Public Records Act: Commentary on State ex rel. Mauk v. Sheldon, 2025-Ohio-5611 I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in State...

Misstatements of Law and Self‑Defense Instructions Do Not Invalidate an Otherwise Valid Guilty Plea under Crim.R. 11: Commentary on State v. Gowdy, 2025‑Ohio‑5575

Date: Dec 20, 2025

Misstatements of Law and Self‑Defense Instructions Do Not Invalidate an Otherwise Valid Guilty Plea under Crim.R. 11: Commentary on State v. Gowdy, 2025‑Ohio‑5575 I. Introduction The Supreme Court of...

Standing, Taxpayer Suits, and the End of the Public-Right Doctrine: Commentary on State ex rel. Martens v. Findlay, 2025-Ohio-5589

Date: Dec 20, 2025

Standing Limits on Taxpayer Mandamus Actions and the Aftermath of Sheward: A Commentary on State ex rel. Martens v. Findlay, 2025-Ohio-5589 I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in...

Foreseeability and Metabolite-Based OVI: Proximate Cause as a Distinct Element in Aggravated Vehicular Assault after State v. Balmert

Date: Dec 20, 2025

Foreseeability and Metabolite-Based OVI: Proximate Cause as a Distinct Element in Aggravated Vehicular Assault after State v. Balmert I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in State v....

Per‑Request Statutory Damages and Mootness in Ohio Public-Records Mandamus: Commentary on State ex rel. Castellon v. Swallow

Date: Dec 20, 2025

Per‑Request Statutory Damages and Mootness in Ohio Public-Records Mandamus: Commentary on State ex rel. Castellon v. Swallow, 2025‑Ohio‑5576 I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in...

Crim.R. 33(A)(6) Requires Evidentiary, Not Necessarily Oral, Hearings on Newly Discovered Evidence Motions: Commentary on State v. Bostick

Date: Dec 20, 2025

Crim.R. 33(A)(6) Requires Evidentiary, Not Necessarily Oral, Hearings on Motions for New Trial Based on Newly Discovered Evidence: Commentary on State v. Bostick, 2025‑Ohio‑5559 I. Introduction In...

Ephemeral Digital Records and the “Kept By” Requirement under Ohio’s Public Records Act: Commentary on State ex rel. Clark v. Dept. of Rehabilitation & Correction

Date: Dec 20, 2025

Ephemeral Digital Records and the “Kept By” Requirement under Ohio’s Public Records Act: Commentary on State ex rel. Clark v. Dept. of Rehabilitation & Correction, 2025‑Ohio‑5552 I. Introduction In...

Silencing Crime Victims by Nondisclosure Agreement as Professional Misconduct: Commentary on Disciplinary Counsel v. Rossi

Date: Dec 6, 2025

Silencing Crime Victims by Nondisclosure Agreement as Professional Misconduct: Commentary on Disciplinary Counsel v. Rossi, 2025-Ohio-5398 I. Introduction In Disciplinary Counsel v. Rossi,...