State ex rel. Johnson v. Ohio State Senate

[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it may be cited as State
ex rel. Johnson v. Ohio State Senate, Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-1912.]
NOTICE
This slip opinion is subject to formal revision before it is published in an
advance sheet of the Ohio Official Reports. Readers are requested to
promptly notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of Ohio, 65
South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, of any typographical or other
formal errors in the opinion, in order that corrections may be made before
the opinion is published.
SLIP OPINION NO. 2022-OHIO-1912THE STATE EX REL. JOHNSON ET AL. v. OHIO STATE SENATE ET AL.
[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it
may be cited as State ex rel. Johnson v. Ohio State Senate, Slip Opinion No.
2022-Ohio-1912.]
Mandamus—Writ sought to compel Ohio Senate and its members to uphold Article
I, Section 21 of the Ohio Constitution—Relief sought in complaint is beyond
this court’s jurisdiction to grant—Motion to dismiss granted—Cause
dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
(No. 2021-1313—Submitted January 25, 2022—Decided June 8, 2022.)
IN MANDAMUS.
________________
Per Curiam.
{¶ 1} In this original action, relators, Nathan C. Johnson, Tony Louis
Deluke III, Shannon Paul Barrett, Julie Erin Boso, and Robert J. Becaj Jr., seek a
writ of mandamus against the Ohio State Senate and its 33 members individually
(collectively, “the Senate respondents”). The Senate respondents have filed a
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motion to dismiss. For the reasons set forth below, we grant the motion and dismiss
the complaint for lack of jurisdiction.
Background
{¶ 2} Article I, Section 21(A) of the Ohio Constitution provides that “[n]o
federal, state, or local law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person,
employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system.” Relators
allege that, beginning in March 2020 and continuing to the present, Ohioans have
been subjected to ongoing violations of this constitutional provision. Specifically,
citizens have been required to “wear alleged medical devices,” provide DNA
samples, have their temperatures taken, receive vaccinations, undergo contact
tracing, and participate in the collection of health-care information.
{¶ 3} To remedy these alleged violations, relators ask this court to issue a
writ of mandamus to compel the Senate respondents to uphold the Ohio
Constitution—specifically Article I, Section 21. More specifically, relators ask for
a writ compelling the Senate respondents to defend Article I, Section 21 “against
any passage of legislation which may possibly conflate, obfuscate or otherwise
subvert the clarity of rights conveyed by” Article I, Section 21. And finally, relators
ask for a writ compelling the Senate respondents to order the Ohio Attorney General
to halt the operation of any public or private entity that is participating in the alleged
constitutional violations within the state of Ohio. Relators allege that the Senate
respondents’ duty to undertake these actions flows from their oaths of office to
support and defend the Ohio Constitution.
{¶ 4} We have considered the Senate respondents’ motion to dismiss and
the arguments presented in relators’ two memoranda in opposition, and we grant
the motion.
Analysis
{¶ 5} A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy, “exercised by this
court with caution and issued only when the right is clear.” State ex rel. Brown v.
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Ashtabula Cty. Bd. of Elections, 142 Ohio St.3d 370, 2014-Ohio-4022, 31 N.E.3d
596, ¶ 11. To be entitled to a writ of mandamus, a party must establish by clear and
convincing evidence (1) a clear legal right to the requested relief, (2) a clear legal
duty on the part of the respondent to provide it, and (3) the lack of an adequate
remedy in the ordinary course of the law. See State ex rel. Love v. O’Donnell, 150
Ohio St.3d 378, 2017-Ohio-5659, 81 N.E.3d 1250, ¶ 3.
{¶ 6} Relators’ request for a writ to compel the Senate respondents to
“defend” Article I, Section 21 can be read in two ways: as a request to compel the
Senate respondents to enact legislation prohibiting the practices to which relators
object or as a request to prohibit them from enacting legislation that would conflict
with Article I, Section 21. Under either theory, we have no jurisdiction to grant the
requested relief.
{¶ 7} “While Ohio, unlike other jurisdictions, does not have a constitutional
provision specifying the concept of separation of powers, this doctrine is implicitly
embedded in the entire framework of those sections of the Ohio Constitution that
define the substance and scope of powers granted to the three branches of state
government.” S. Euclid v. Jemison, 28 Ohio St.3d 157, 158-159, 503 N.E.2d 136(1986). The legislative power of this state is vested in the General Assembly. Ohio
Constitution, Article II, Section 1; Stetter v. R.J. Corman Derailment Servs., L.L.C.,
125 Ohio St.3d 280, 2010-Ohio-1029, 927 N.E.2d 1092, ¶ 36. As such, the General
Assembly has the power to enact, amend, and repeal statutes, Ohio Constitution,
Article II, and “[t]his lawmaking prerogative cannot be delegated to or encroached
upon by the other branches of government,” Toledo v. State, 154 Ohio St.3d 41,
2018-Ohio-2358, 110 N.E.3d 1257, ¶ 26.
{¶ 8} “A writ of mandamus will not issue to a legislative body or its officers
to require the performance of duties that are purely legislative in character and over
which such legislative bodies have exclusive control.” State ex rel. Grendell v.
Davidson, 86 Ohio St.3d 629, 633, 716 N.E.2d 704 (1999). In other words, we
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have no jurisdiction to order the General Assembly to enact a specific piece of
legislation. In Grendell, for example, the issue was whether this court could compel
the inclusion of an airport-funding appropriation in the General Assembly’s
conference report. The relators argued that the appropriation had been approved
by both chambers of the legislature and that the conference committee failed to
follow the legislative rules when it deleted the provision. We denied the writ,
holding that the separation-of-powers doctrine prohibited a court from directing the
legislature to perform duties that were “purely legislative in character.” Id.Likewise, in Wapakoneta v. Helpling, 135 Ohio St. 98, 19 N.E.2d 772 (1939), the
relator sought a writ of mandamus to compel a municipal legislature to build a light
and power plant. We denied the writ because the construction project would
involve the performance of discretionary duties that were “purely legislative in
character,” involving “a responsibility and burden which is outside the scope of the
judicial function.” Id. at 108.
{¶ 9} Under the same theory, we also have no jurisdiction to preemptively
order the General Assembly not to enact legislation “because the separation-of-
powers doctrine precludes courts from enjoining the General Assembly from
exercising its legislative power to enact laws.” Toledo at ¶ 2.
{¶ 10} Judicial power is conferred upon the courts of Ohio by Article IV,
Section 1 of the Ohio Constitution. “ ‘It is emphatically the province and duty of
the judicial department to say what the law is.’ ” Adams v. DeWine, __ Ohio St.3d
__, 2022-Ohio-89, __ N.E.3d __, quoting Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137, 177, 2
L.Ed. 60 (1803). But the courts cannot tell the legislature what the law should be
or dictate how the General Assembly should carry out its constitutional
responsibilities. “It is a fundamental principle of the separation of powers that ‘the
legislative branch [of government] is the “ultimate arbiter of public policy.” ’ ”
Gabbard v. Madison Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn., 165 Ohio St.3d 390, 2021-
Ohio-2067, 179 N.E.3d 1169, ¶ 39, quoting Urbino v. Johnson & Johnson, 116
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Ohio St.3d 468, 2007-Ohio-6948, 880 N.E.2d 420, ¶ 21, quoting State ex rel.
Cincinnati Enquirer Div. of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. v. Dupuis,
98 Ohio St.3d 126, 2002-Ohio-7041, 781 N.E.2d 163, ¶ 21.
{¶ 11} For similar reasons, we may not order the General Assembly to
compel the attorney general to perform his duties in a certain fashion. The attorney
general is an independently elected executive-branch official. Ohio Constitution,
Article III, Section 1; R.C. 109.01; State ex rel. Doerfler v. Price, 101 Ohio St. 50,
128 N.E. 173 (1920), paragraph 3 of the syllabus. We express no opinion as to the
scope of the General Assembly’s authority to control how the attorney general
performs his duties, except to say that if the General Assembly were to impose
restraints on an executive-branch official, it would have to do so through the
passage of legislation. And the separation-of-powers doctrine precludes us from
telling the General Assembly what legislation it should enact.
{¶ 12} In their memoranda opposing the motion to dismiss, relators suggest
that dismissal is inappropriate because service had not yet been perfected on some
of the Senate respondents. However, failure of service of process is an affirmative
defense that may be waived if a defendant appears in the action without preserving
the defense. See Williams v. Gray Guy Group, L.L.C., 10th Dist. Franklin No.
16AP-321, 2016-Ohio-8499, ¶ 19 (citing cases). It follows, therefore, that a party
may file a motion to dismiss without waiting to receive service of process. And
contrary to the claim made in relators’ two memoranda, the motion to dismiss was
filed on behalf of all the respondents.
{¶ 13} The relief sought in this complaint is beyond our jurisdiction to
grant. We therefore dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction.
Motion granted
and cause dismissed.
O’CONNOR, C.J., and FISCHER, DEWINE, DONNELLY, and STEWART, JJ.,
concur.
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KENNEDY, J., concurs in judgment only, with an opinion.
BRUNNER, J., concurs in judgment only.
_________________
KENNEDY, J., concurring in judgment only.
{¶ 14} Because relators, Nathan C. Johnson, Tony Louis Deluke III,
Shannon Paul Barrett, Julie Erin Boso, and Robert J. Becaj Jr., are unable to prove
any set of facts that would entitle them to the relief requested in their complaint, I
agree with the majority that their mandamus action seeking to compel respondents,
the Ohio Senate and its 33 members, to uphold and defend Article I, Section 21 of
the Ohio Constitution must be dismissed. Consequently, although this case raises
significant constitutional issues regarding the limits of state government that
demand resolution, I concur in the judgment of the court, because I must. I write
separately, however, because the majority confuses the exercise of subject-matter
jurisdiction with the existence of it.
{¶ 15} Relators allege that the state government’s response to the COVID-
19 pandemic (imposing mask mandates, screening for infection, conducting contact
tracing, and providing vaccinations, for example) violated Article I, Section 21(A)
of the Ohio Constitution, which provides that “[n]o federal, state, or local law or
rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care
provider to participate in a health care system.” They seek a writ of mandamus
directing respondents to defend this constitutional provision against future
encroachments on Ohioans’ liberty. Respondents have moved to dismiss the
complaint.
{¶ 16} In deciding a motion to dismiss, we assume the truth of all factual
allegations in the complaint and draw all reasonable inferences from them in favor
of the relators. State ex rel. Williams Ford Sales, Inc. v. Connor, 72 Ohio St.3d
111, 113, 647 N.E.2d 804 (1995). We may dismiss for the failure to state a claim
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January Term, 2022
upon which relief can be granted only if it appears beyond doubt that relators can
prove no set of facts entitling them to relief. Id.{¶ 17} “To be entitled to a writ of mandamus, a petitioner must establish a
clear legal right to the requested relief, a clear legal duty on the part of a respondent
to grant the relief, and the lack of an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the
law.” State ex rel. Pennington v. Bivens, 166 Ohio St.3d 241, 2021-Ohio-3134, 185
N.E.3d 41, ¶ 10.
{¶ 18} Respondents do not have a clear legal duty to grant the relief that
relators request. As we recently explained in Toledo v. State, “[i]n framing the
Ohio Constitution, the people of this state conferred on the General Assembly the
legislative power. This lawmaking prerogative cannot be delegated to or
encroached upon by the other branches of government.” 154 Ohio St.3d 41, 2018-
Ohio-2358, 110 N.E.3d 1257, ¶ 26. “The separation-of-powers doctrine therefore
precludes the judiciary from asserting control over ‘the performance of duties that
are purely legislative in character and over which such legislative bodies have
exclusive control.’ ” Id. at ¶ 27, quoting State ex rel. Grendell v. Davidson, 86 Ohio
St.3d 629, 633, 716 N.E.2d 704 (1999). Rather, “[c]ourts may intervene only after
a legislative enactment has been passed and challenged in an action properly before
it.” Id. at ¶ 29.
{¶ 19} Although granting the relief that relators request would cross the
boundary between the judicial and legislative branches, that does not mean this
court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over this action.
{¶ 20} We have recognized that the word “jurisdiction,” set apart by itself,
“is a vague term, ‘ “a word of many, too many, meanings.” ’ ” Cheap Escape Co.,
Inc. v. Haddox, L.L.C., 120 Ohio St.3d 493, 2008-Ohio-6323, 900 N.E.2d 601, ¶ 5,
quoting Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Environment, 523 U.S. 83, 90, 118 S.Ct.
1003, 140 L.Ed.2d 210 (1998), quoting United States v. Vanness, 85 F.3d 661, 663
(D.C.Cir.1996), fn. 2. It can include “[s]everal distinct concepts, including
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territorial jurisdiction, monetary jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction, and subject-
matter jurisdiction,” id., as well as “jurisdiction over a particular case,” Bank of
Am., N.A. v. Kuchta, 141 Ohio St.3d 75, 2014-Ohio-4275, 21 N.E.3d 1040, ¶ 18.
“ ‘The often unspecified use of this polysemic word can lead to confusion and has
repeatedly required clarification as to which type of “jurisdiction” is applicable in
various legal analyses.’ ” Ostanek v. Ostanek, 166 Ohio St.3d 1, 2021-Ohio-2319,
181 N.E.3d 1162, ¶ 20, quoting Kuchta at ¶ 18.
{¶ 21} “Subject-matter jurisdiction refers to the constitutional or statutory
power of a court to adjudicate a particular class or type of case,” Corder v. Ohio
Edison Co., 162 Ohio St.3d 639, 2020-Ohio-5220, 166 N.E.3d 1180, ¶ 14, and “ ‘[a]
court’s subject-matter jurisdiction is determined without regard to the rights of the
individual parties involved in a particular case,’ ” id., quoting Kuchta at ¶ 19.
“Instead, ‘the focus is on whether the forum itself is competent to hear the
controversy.’ ” Id. at ¶ 14, quoting State v. Harper, 160 Ohio St.3d 480, 2020-
Ohio-2913, 159 N.E.3d 248, ¶ 23.
{¶ 22} On the other hand, “[a] court’s jurisdiction over a particular case
refers to the court’s authority to proceed or rule on a case that is within the court’s
subject-matter jurisdiction.” Kuchta at ¶ 19. This reference to a court’s exercise
of its jurisdiction over a particular case “involves consideration of the rights of the
parties,” id., citing Pratts v. Hurley, 102 Ohio St.3d 81, 2004-Ohio-1980, 806
N.E.2d 992, ¶ 12. That is, “ ‘ “[o]nce a tribunal has jurisdiction over both the
subject matter of an action and the parties to it, ‘* * * the right to hear and determine
is perfect; and the decision of every question thereafter arising is but the exercise
of the jurisdiction thus conferred * * *.’ ” ’ ” (Ellipses added in Pizza.) Harper at
¶ 26, quoting Pratts at ¶ 12, quoting State ex rel. Pizza v. Rayford, 62 Ohio St.3d
382, 384, 582 N.E.2d 992 (1992), quoting Sheldon’s Lessee v. Newton, 3 Ohio St.
494, 499 (1854).
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January Term, 2022
{¶ 23} The Ohio Constitution establishes the subject-matter jurisdiction of
this court and expressly provides that we have original jurisdiction over actions in
quo warranto, habeas corpus, prohibition, procedendo, practice-of-law matters, and
relevant here, mandamus. Article IV, Section 2(B)(1) of the Ohio Constitution.
We therefore have original jurisdiction to review the complaint filed in this case.
{¶ 24} Nonetheless, the separation-of-powers doctrine is “the sacred maxim
of free government,” Madison, The Federalist No. 47 at 308 (Clinton Rossiter
Ed.1961), and “the checks and balances that principle ensures are now deemed
fundamental to our democratic form of government,” State ex rel. Dann v. Taft, 109
Ohio St.3d 364, 2006-Ohio-1825, 848 N.E.2d 472, ¶ 55. But until today, we have
never held that the separation-of-powers doctrine should be considered when
determining the subject-matter jurisdiction of courts, and the two cases that the
majority cites in support of its holding—Grendell and Wapakoneta v. Helpling, 135
Ohio St. 98, 19 N.E.2d 772 (1939)—say nothing to that effect. In fact, in Helpling,
the court reached the merits of the relator’s claims, which would not have been
appropriate if a jurisdictional bar had been applied.
{¶ 25} In any case, it is not necessary to decide whether the separation-of-
powers doctrine, which is implicitly embedded within the framework of the Ohio
Constitution, see State v. Bodyke, 126 Ohio St.3d 266, 2010-Ohio-2424, 933
N.E.2d 753, ¶ 42, deprives this court of subject-matter jurisdiction notwithstanding
the express grant of original jurisdiction to review mandamus actions set forth in
Article IV, Section 2(B)(1)(b). That question has not been presented and argued
by the parties, and we have held that a court of appeals “should not decide cases on
the basis of a new, unbriefed issue without ‘giv[ing] the parties notice of its
intention and an opportunity to brief the issue,’ ” (brackets sic) State v. Tate, 140
Ohio St.3d 442, 2014-Ohio-3667, 19 N.E.3d 888, ¶ 21, quoting State v. 1981 Dodge
Ram Van, 36 Ohio St.3d 168, 170, 522 N.E.2d 524 (1988). We should not be so
quick to reach an unbriefed issue ourselves.
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{¶ 26} For these reasons, I concur in the majority’s judgment but not its
opinion. And although I recognize the weighty constitutional questions that relators
have raised, principles of judicial restraint preclude this court from answering them
today.
_________________
Nathan C. Johnson, pro se.
Tony Louis Deluke III, pro se.
Shannon Paul Barrett, pro se.
Julie Erin Boso, pro se.
Robert J. Becaj Jr., pro se.
Dave Yost, Attorney General, and Garrett M. Anderson and Bryan B. Lee,
Assistant Attorneys General, for respondents.
_________________
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