2006 Ohio Revised Code - 2953.73. Submission of application; response; court determination as to whether to accept or reject application; appeals.

§ 2953.73. Submission of application; response; court determination as to whether to accept or reject application; appeals.
 

(A)  An eligible inmate who wishes to request DNA testing to be conducted under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code shall submit an application for DNA testing on a form prescribed by the attorney general for this purpose and shall submit the form to the court of common pleas that sentenced the inmate for the offense for which the inmate is an eligible inmate and is requesting DNA testing. 

(B)  If an eligible inmate submits an application for DNA testing under division (A) of this section, upon the submission of the application, all of the following apply: 

(1) The eligible inmate shall serve a copy of the application on the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general. 

(2) The application shall be assigned to the judge of that court of common pleas who was the trial judge in the case in which the eligible inmate was convicted of the offense for which the inmate is requesting DNA testing, or, if that judge no longer is a judge of that court, it shall be assigned according to court rules. The judge to whom the application is assigned shall decide the application. The application shall become part of the file in the case. 

(C)  If an eligible inmate submits an application for DNA testing under division (A) of this section, regardless of whether the inmate has commenced any federal habeas corpus proceeding relative to the case in which the inmate was convicted of the offense for which the inmate is an eligible inmate and is requesting DNA testing, any response to the application by the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general shall be filed not later than forty-five days after the date on which the eligible inmate submits the application. The prosecuting attorney or the attorney general, or both, may, but are not required to, file a response to the application. If the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general files a response under this division, the prosecuting attorney or attorney general, whoever filed the response, shall serve a copy of the response on the eligible inmate. 

(D)  If an eligible inmate submits an application for DNA testing under division (A) of this section, the court shall make the determination as to whether the application should be accepted or rejected. The court shall expedite its review of the application. The court shall make the determination in accordance with the criteria and procedures set forth in sections 2953.74 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code and, in making the determination, shall consider the application, the supporting affidavits, and the documentary evidence and, in addition to those materials, shall consider all the files and records pertaining to the proceedings against the applicant, including, but not limited to, the indictment, the court's journal entries, the journalized records of the clerk of the court, and the court reporter's transcript and all responses to the application filed under division (C) of this section by a prosecuting attorney or the attorney general, unless the application and the files and records show the applicant is not entitled to DNA testing, in which case the application may be denied. The court is not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing in conducting its review of, and in making its determination as to whether to accept or reject, the application. Upon making its determination, the court shall enter a judgment and order that either accepts or rejects the application and that includes within the judgment and order the reasons for the acceptance or rejection as applied to the criteria and procedures set forth in sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code. The court shall send a copy of the judgment and order to the eligible inmate who filed it, the prosecuting attorney, and the attorney general. 

(E)  A judgment and order of a court entered under division (D) of this section is appealable only as provided in this division. If an eligible inmate submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and the court of common pleas rejects the application under division (D) of this section, one of the following applies: 

(1) If the inmate was sentenced to death for the offense for which the inmate claims to be an eligible inmate and is requesting DNA testing, the inmate may seek leave of the supreme court to appeal the rejection to the supreme court. Courts of appeals do not have jurisdiction to review any rejection if the inmate was sentenced to death for the offense for which the inmate claims to be an eligible inmate and is requesting DNA testing. 

(2) If the inmate was not sentenced to death for the offense for which the inmate claims to be an eligible inmate and is requesting DNA testing, the rejection is a final appealable order, and the inmate may appeal it to the court of appeals of the district in which is located that court of common pleas. 

(F)  Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding fees and costs, no filing fee shall be required of, and no court costs shall be assessed against, an eligible offender who is indigent and who submits an application under this section. 

(G)  If a court rejects an eligible inmate's application for DNA testing under division (D) of this section, unless the rejection is overturned on appeal, no court shall require the state to administer a DNA test under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code on the eligible inmate. 
 

HISTORY: 150 v S 11, § 1, Eff 10-29-03; 150 v H 525, § 1, eff. 5-18-05; 151 v S 262, § 1, eff. 7-11-06.
 

See provisions of § 4 of 151 v S 262 following RC § 2901.07. 

 

Effect of Amendments

151 v S 262, effective July 11, 2006, in (A), deleted the last sentence, pertaining to submission of an application to the court of common pleas. 

150 v H 525, effective May 18, 2005, in (A), substituted "two years after October 29, 2003" for "one year after the effective date of this section"; and redesignated former (E)(a) and (b) as (E)(1) and (2).