On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Cory Springs filed a complaint for a writ of mandamus in the Supreme Court of Ohio against Douglas M. Rastatter, a Clark County Common Pleas Judge. Springs, an inmate at Chillicothe Correctional Institution, initiated the action pro se.
Springs’ complaint seeks to compel Judge Rastatter to rule on motions filed in a case where Springs is the defendant, specifically case number 21-CR-550 in Clark County. According to the filing, Springs was indicted by a Clark County Grand Jury for aggravated robbery. Springs asserts that a motion filed on April 15, 2025, has been pending for over 120 days without a ruling.
In the filing, Springs argues that Judge Rastatter has a legal duty to rule on the pending motions and that Springs lacks an adequate remedy because of the judge’s failure to act. Springs claims entitlement to a writ of mandamus, asserting a clear legal right to require the judge to proceed to judgment.
The filing includes an affidavit from Springs attesting to the facts presented and affirming that the writ of mandamus is filed in good faith. Springs also submitted an affidavit of prior civil litigation history, stating that he has not filed any civil actions in the last five years. Additionally, an affidavit of indigency and request for waiver of costs was included, asserting Springs’ inability to pay the filing fee or security deposit.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
