Prosecuting Attorney Seeks Writ of Prohibition Against Ohio Judge Katrine M. Lancaster for Closing Juvenile Case with Pending Appeal

On Friday, June 28, 2024, the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney, Daniel P. Driscoll, filed an application for a writ of prohibition with the Supreme Court of Ohio against Judge Katrine M. Lancaster.

The filing comes after Judge Lancaster entered a termination order on June 24, 2024, in the juvenile case of C.W., which was docketed as case number 20230440 in the Clark County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, Juvenile Section. C.W. had been adjudicated delinquent on robbery charges on January 5, 2024, and was placed on probation by Judge Lancaster in February.

However, C.W. filed an appeal of the adjudication and disposition on March 15th, which was assigned case number 24-CA-0018 in the Second District Court of Appeals. The Second District expedited the appeal. Both sides filed briefs in May and June, with the appeal still pending a decision at the time Judge Lancaster issued the termination order.

In the complaint, Prosecutor Driscoll argues that Judge Lancaster lacked jurisdiction to issue the termination order since the appeal was still active. Once an appeal is filed, the lower court loses jurisdiction except to act in aid of the appeal. However, the termination was not related to assisting the appellate court.

By terminating C.W.’s probation and closing the case, Judge Lancaster exercised unauthorized judicial power since she no longer had authority over the case, the complaint states. The application seeks a writ of prohibition to void the termination order and prohibit further action from Judge Lancaster on the juvenile case until the appeals court rules.

The facts of the underlying juvenile case involve C.W. being found delinquent for robbery in January after an altercation with another girl over a shared romantic interest. C.W. was sentenced to probation but appealed the adjudication. The complaint and attached exhibits provide details of hearings and filings in both the juvenile court and appeals court proceedings.

The application alleges Judge Lancaster clearly and unambiguously lacked jurisdiction to issue the contested order while the appeal was pending. If granted, the writ would prohibit Judge Lancaster from exercising power on a case that is no longer under her purview due to the ongoing appeal.

Judge Lancaster‘s courtroom is located at 101 E Columbia St., Springfield, OH 45502, and can be reached at (937)521-1600 Ext. 1611.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.