State ex rel. Mason v. Matia

[Cite as State ex rel. Mason v. Matia, 2011-Ohio-3068.] Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 95866 STATE OF OHIO, EX REL., WILLIAM D. MASON, CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROSECUTOR RELATOR vs. HONORABLE JUDGE DAVID T. MATIA CUYAHOGA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS RESPONDENT JUDGMENT: WRITS DENIED Writs of Mandamus and Procendendo Motion No. 445353 Order No. 445354 RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2011 FOR RELATOR William D. Mason Cuyahoga County Prosecutor BY: Matthew E. Meyer Assistant Prosecuting Attorney The Justice Center, 8 Floor ht 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 ATTORNEY FOR RESPONDENT Michael P. Maloney 24441 Detroit Road Suite 300 Westlake, Ohio 44145 LARRY A. JONES, J.: {¶ 1} The relator, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason, commenced this mandamus and/or procedendo action against the respondent, Judge David T. Matia, to compel the judge to issue in the underlying case, State v. Hatfield, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Case No. CR-532633, a journal entry reflecting his decision to grant a motion in limine excluding an audio tape of an alleged drug transaction. {¶ 2} A review of the docket in the underlying case shows that on May 13, 2011, the respondent issued the following journal entry in the underlying case: “Corrected entry of August 24, 2010: Defendant’s motion in limine is granted. Defendant sought to deny the state the opportunity to introduce and/or [sic] the tape recording made by the confidential informant during his alleged drug buy from the claimed defendant. The State of Ohio refused to identify the confidential informant during the discovery process and assured the court during a pre-trial conference that they would not be calling the confidential informant as a witness. As a result, the court granted the defendant’s motion in limine.” {¶ 3} This entry established that the relator has received his requested relief, a journal entry granting the motion in limine. Accordingly, this writ action is moot, and the court, sua sponte, dismisses this application for a writ of mandamus and/or precedendo. Costs assessed against the respondent. The court directs the Clerk of Court of the Eighth District Court of Appeals to serve upon all parties notice of this judgment and its date of entry upon the journal. Civ.R. 58(B). LARRY A. JONES, JUDGE MARY EILEEN KILBANE, A.J., and FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., J., CONCUR