State v. Orris

Decision Date26 April 1971
Citation269 N.E.2d 623,26 Ohio App.2d 87
Parties, 55 O.O.2d 211 The STATE of Ohio, Appellee, v. ORRIS, Appellant.
CourtOhio Court of Appeals

Syllabus by the Court

The holding of a hearing on a motion for probation after thirty days of sentence has been served pursuant to R.C. 2947.061 is discretionary with the trial court, and failure to conduct an oral hearing upon such a motion is not a denial of due process of law, the only mandatory requirement of R.C. 2947.061 being that the disposition of the motion be within certain specified time limits.

Henry E. Shaw, Jr., Pros. Atty. for appellee.

Richard H. Babcock, Delaware, for appellant.

TROOP, Judge.

This appeal is from an order of the Common Pleas Court of Delaware County, filed January 8, 1971, denying the motion of the defendant, on December 24, 1970, asking for the suspension of the sentence imposed by the court by entry of October 26, 1970.

Defendant, Donald G. Orris, entered a plea of guilty to two counts, armed robbery (covered by R.C. 2901.13) and larceny (covered by R.C. 2907.20). He was sentenced to serve the statutory sentences imposed concurrently.

Defendant, appellant herein, supports his appeal from the order denying him the benefit of R.C. 2947.061 with what amounts to a single assignment of error. The contention is that the trial court must hold an oral hearing and that not to do so is a denial of due process of law. It is undisputed that the trial court in this case did not schedule or hold a formal hearing.

Applicable statutes are important to this discussion. Pertinent portions are quoted. R.C. 2947.061, effective, originally, on October 30, 1965, and amended effective November 14, 1969, reads in part as follows:

'Subject to Sections 2951.03 to 2951.09, inclusive, of the Revised Code, that trial court may * * * suspend the further execution of the sentence and place the defendant on probation * * *.'

And, R.C. 2947.062, effective May 26, 1970, states in part as follows:

'If a hearing is granted pursuant to Section 2947.061 (2947.06.1) of the Revised Code, the prisoner shall attend such hearing if so ordered by the court.'

It must be noted that R.C. 2947.061 provides that the delayed probation arrangement is subject to R.C. 2951.03 through R.C. 2951.09, which sections provide for the procedure for probation, eligibility for probation, and the control and supervision of persons placed on probation. The relatively new sections, providing that a trial court 'may' upon motion of the defendant, or upon its own motion, suspend execution of a sentence, are an adjunct to and a part of the ordinary probation procedures.

The two new sections, noted ante, must be read in pari materia. R.C. 2947.061 provides that a court 'shall hear' a motion made by a defendant within 60 days after the filing date thereof. R.C. 2947.062 states that 'if a hearing is granted,' the prisoner shall attend if ordered by the court.

Counsel for defenant bottoms his argument on the 'court shall hear' phrase and moves too quickly from the other significant phrase, 'if a hearing is granted'. The latter is a part of R.C. 2947.062. This was effective May 26, 1970, which is after the effective date of the former November 14, 1969. It must be assumed that the Legislature knew that it had said 'shall hear' when it used the words 'if a hearing is granted.'

There may be some confusion in the two choices of words but the term 'hearing' more nearly reflects the meaning urged by counsel for the defendant. ...

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19 cases
  • U.S. v. Spruill
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • May 15, 2002
    ...can in some circumstances be adequate'), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1032, 110 S.Ct. 3295, 111 L.Ed.2d 803 (1990); State v. Orris, 26 Ohio App.2d 87, 269 N.E.2d 623, 624 (1971) (the term `hearing' suggests `to "give audience to'"); Black's Law Dictionary 721 (6th ed.1990) (defining `hearing' as ......
  • U.S. v. Tannehill
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • March 29, 1995
    ...can in some circumstances be adequate"), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1031, 110 S.Ct. 3295, 111 L.Ed.2d 803 (1990); State v. Orris, 26 Ohio App.2d 87, 269 N.E.2d 623, 624 (1971) (the term "hearing" suggests "to 'give audience to' "); Black's Law Dictionary 721 (6th ed. 1990) (defining "hearing" a......
  • U.S. v Spruill
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • May 15, 2002
    ...can in some circumstances be adequate'), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1031, 110 S.Ct. 3295, 111 L.Ed.2d 803 (1990); State v. Orris, 26 Ohio App.2d 87, 269 N.E.2d 623, 624 (1971) (the term 'hearing' suggests 'to "give audience to"'); Black's Law Dictionary 721 (6th ed. 1990) (defining 'hearing' as......
  • Goodfriend v. Board of Appeals of Cook County
    • United States
    • United States Appellate Court of Illinois
    • November 13, 1973
    ...'Hearing,' as used contemplates 'a listening to facts and evidence for the sake of adjudication. '' In State v. Orris (1971), 26 Ohio App.2d 87, 89, 269 N.E.2d 623, 624, it was held that '(h)earing suggests to 'give audience to,' a meaning which attaches when in the law a court holds a 'hea......
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