Village of Monroeville v. Ward

Two questions are presented in this appeal: (1) Whether the 1968 amendment to Section 4 of Article IV of the Ohio Constitution divests the General Assembly of power to provide Courts of Common Pleas with jurisdiction to review judgments of mayors’ courts, and (2) whether a mayor, who serves as chief executive officer of a municipality, can function impartially in a judicial capacity.

Prior to its amendment in 1968, Section 4 of Article IV read:

“The jurisdiction of the Courts of Common Pleas, and of the judges thereof, shall be fixed by law.”

*181After its amendment in 1968, Section 4 of Article IV,…