On Friday, May 9, 2025, John H. Mack, Jr. filed a notice of appeal in the Supreme Court of Ohio, challenging a decision from the Richland County Court of Appeals, Fifth Appellate District.
The appeal stems from the dismissal of Mack’s petition for a writ of mandamus against Judge Brent N. Robinson of the Richland County Common Pleas Court. Mack, representing himself, argues that the case involves significant constitutional issues and matters of public or great general interest.
The Richland County Court of Appeals dismissed Mack’s mandamus petition on April 14, 2025, citing his failure to comply with Ohio Revised Code (R.C.) 2969.25(A). This statute requires inmates filing civil actions or appeals in state or federal courts to submit an affidavit detailing all civil actions or appeals they have filed in the past five years. The affidavit must include a description of each case, the case name, number, court, parties involved, and the outcome. The court found that Mack’s affidavit was incomplete, as it listed four prior civil actions but omitted required details, such as the names of all parties involved and, in some instances, the case captions.
According to the court’s judgment entry, compliance with R.C. 2969.25(A) is mandatory, and failure to provide all required information warrants dismissal. The court referenced prior cases, including *State v. Henton (2016)* and *Robinson v. LaRose (2016)*, to support its decision to dismiss Mack’s petition sua sponte, meaning on its own initiative, without a formal hearing. The court also ordered Mack to cover the associated costs.
Mack, currently incarcerated at Allen Correctional Institution in Lima, Ohio, mailed copies of his notice of appeal to the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office and Judge Robinson’s office at the Richland County Common Pleas Court on the same day he filed the appeal.
The Supreme Court of Ohio will now review the case to determine whether it will proceed based on the issues raised by Mack.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
