State ex rel. Cowan v. Gallagher (Slip Opinion)

{¶ 1} We affirm the Eighth District Court of Appeals’ denial of a writ of mandamus to appellant, Craig A. Cowan, because Cowan had an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law by way of appeal.

Facts

{¶ 2} In January 2012, Cowan was tried for and found guilty of several offenses. The court imposed a prison sentence, and Cowan filed an appeal. See State v. Cowan, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97877, 2012-Ohio-5723, 2012 WL 6088306, ¶ 13. Prior to his trial, Cowan had filed a motion to represent himself, but the trial court never ruled on it.

{¶ 3} Cowan’s appellate counsel raised five…