Ohio § 2953.73

§ 2953.73.

(A) An eligible offender who wishes to request DNA testing to be conducted under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code shall submit an application for DNA testing on a form prescribed by the attorney

general for this purpose and shall submit the form to the court of common pleas that

sentenced the offender for the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender

and is requesting DNA testing. (B) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under division (A)

of this section, upon the submission of the application, all of the following apply: (1) The eligible offender shall serve a copy of the application on the prosecuting attorney

and the attorney general. (2) The application shall be assigned to the judge of that court of common pleas who

was the trial judge in the case in which the eligible offender was convicted of the

offense for which the offender is requesting DNA testing, or, if that judge no longer

is a judge of that court, it shall be assigned according to court rules.  The judge to whom the application is assigned shall decide the application.  The application shall become part of the file in the case. (C) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under division (A)

of this section, regardless of whether the offender has commenced any federal habeas

corpus proceeding relative to the case in which the offender was convicted of the

offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting DNA testing,

any response to the application by the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general

shall be filed not later than forty-five days after the date on which the eligible

offender submits the application.  The prosecuting attorney or the attorney general, or both, may, but are not required

to, file a response to the application.  If the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general files a response under this

division, the prosecuting attorney or attorney general, whoever filed the response,

shall serve a copy of the response on the eligible offender. (D) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under division (A)

of this section, the court shall make the determination as to whether the application

should be accepted or rejected.  The court shall expedite its review of the application.  The court shall make the determination in accordance with the criteria and procedures

set forth in sections 2953.74 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code and, in making the determination, shall consider the application, the supporting

affidavits, and the documentary evidence and, in addition to those materials, shall

consider all the files and records pertaining to the proceedings against the applicant,

including, but not limited to, the indictment, the court's journal entries, the journalized

records of the clerk of the court, and the court reporter's transcript and all responses

to the application filed under division (C) of this section by a prosecuting attorney

or the attorney general, unless the application and the files and records show the

applicant is not entitled to DNA testing, in which case the application may be denied.  The court is not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing in conducting its review

of, and in making its determination as to whether to accept or reject, the application.  Upon making its determination, the court shall enter a judgment and order that either

accepts or rejects the application and that includes within the judgment and order

the reasons for the acceptance or rejection as applied to the criteria and procedures

set forth in sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code .  The court shall send a copy of the judgment and order to the eligible offender who

filed it, the prosecuting attorney, and the attorney general. (E) A judgment and order of a court entered under division (D) of this section is appealable

only as provided in this division.  If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and the court of common pleas rejects the application under division (D) of this

section, one of the following applies: (1) If the offender was sentenced to death for the offense for which the offender claims

to be an eligible offender and is requesting DNA testing, the offender may seek leave

of the supreme court to appeal the rejection to the supreme court.  Courts of appeals do not have jurisdiction to review any rejection if the offender

was sentenced to death for the offense for which the offender claims to be an eligible

offender and is requesting DNA testing. (2) If the offender was not sentenced to death for the offense for which the offender

claims to be an eligible offender and is requesting DNA testing, the rejection is

a final appealable order, and the offender may appeal it to the court of appeals of

the district in which is located that court of common pleas. (F) Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding fees and costs, no filing fee shall

be required of, and no court costs shall be assessed against, an eligible offender

who is indigent and who submits an application under this section. (G) If a court rejects an eligible offender's application for DNA testing under division

(D) of this section, unless the rejection is overturned on appeal, no court shall

require the state to administer a DNA test under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code on the eligible offender.