On Friday, June 27, 2025, Elhadj Alpha Mahmoud Souare filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in the Supreme Court of Ohio against the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Judge Kani Hightower, and the Summit County Clerk of Courts. Souare, representing himself, seeks to compel the court to address procedural issues in a domestic relations case.
The petition alleges that a magistrate’s decision issued on November 27, 2023, by Magistrate Eliza Hill was neither served to Souare nor recorded in the court’s journal, as required by Ohio Civil Rule 53(D)(3)(a) and Summit County Local Rule 18. Souare claims this failure prevents him from filing timely objections, impacting his due process rights. He further asserts that despite multiple requests to the clerk, the decision remains unserved and unjournalized.
Additionally, Souare’s petition requests the reassignment of the case to another judge, citing Summit County Local Rule 24, which governs the rotation of judicial officers. He alleges that Judge Kani Hightower has not acted on a motion to reassign the case due to Magistrate Hill’s demonstrated bias. The petition argues that this inaction constitutes a refusal to perform clear legal duties.
The petition requests the court to order the clerk to serve and journalize the magistrate’s decision immediately and direct the court and Judge Hightower to reassign the case. It also seeks costs and expenses for Souare.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
