On Monday, February 10, 2025, Remir D. Rice filed a petition for a writ of procedendo in the Ohio Supreme Court against Judge Joyce A. Campbell of the Fairfield Municipal Court. The petition seeks a court order compelling Judge Campbell to issue a ruling on a motion that Rice claims has been pending for an extended period without a decision.
In the petition, Rice, who is currently incarcerated, asserts that he submitted the motion to the Fairfield Municipal Court on March 14, 2023. The motion requests specific relief regarding his legal situation. He contends that despite the time elapsed since the motion was filed, no ruling has been made by the court.
Rice argues that the lack of a decision from Judge Campbell constitutes an unnecessary delay, which he claims has deprived him of his legal rights. He cites a precedent from a 1995 Ohio Supreme Court case, stating that a writ of procedendo may be warranted when a court has either refused to render judgment or has unnecessarily delayed proceeding to judgment. Rice posits that he has established a clear legal right to require the court to act on his motion, and he contends that the court has a legal duty to issue a ruling.
The petition outlines three criteria that must be met for a writ of procedendo to be granted: a clear legal right for the petitioner to require the court to proceed, a clear legal duty on the part of the court to act, and the absence of an adequate remedy through ordinary legal channels. Rice emphasizes that he has no other adequate legal remedy available and that the delay in ruling on his motion is significant enough to warrant the issuance of the writ.
In his request for relief, Rice asks the Ohio Supreme Court to direct Judge Campbell to issue a final ruling on his motion within five business days. Additionally, he requests that should the Supreme Court decline to grant this initial request, an alternative writ be issued. Rice concludes his petition by asking for any other relief to which he may be entitled under the law.
Rice’s legal troubles stem from multiple criminal cases, including charges of drug trafficking and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is currently serving a sentence related to these offenses and has expressed concern about the impact of the court’s delays on his legal standing and future prospects for release.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
