State v. Vanzandt (Slip Opinion)

{¶ 1} In this appeal, we address whether a court has discretion to unseal records of criminal proceedings for purposes other than those provided in R.C. 2953.53(D). We hold that the court does not have discretion to create additional exceptions to permit access to sealed records, and we therefore reverse the judgment of the First District Court of Appeals.

Relevant History

{¶ 2} Appellant, Terrell Vanzandt, formerly known as Terrell Asberry, was charged with four criminal offenses related to drug trafficking and was subsequently acquitted by a jury. Vanzandt then moved to seal the records in…