Proceedings for the removal of public officers on any of the grounds enumerated in section 3.07 of the Revised Code shall be commenced by the filing of a written or printed complaint specifically setting forth the charge and signed by qualified electors of the state or political subdivision whose officer it is sought to remove, not less in number than fifteen per cent of the total vote cast for governor at the most recent election for the office of governor in the state or political subdivision whose officer it is sought to remove, or, if the officer sought to be removed is the sheriff or prosecuting attorney of a county or the mayor of a municipal corporation, the governor may sign and file such written or printed complaint without the signatures of qualified electors. Such complaint shall be filed with the court of common pleas of the county where the officer against whom the complaint is filed resides, except that when the officer against whom the complaint is filed is a judge of the court of common pleas, such complaint shall be filed in the court of appeals of the district where such judge resides, and all complaints against state officers shall be filed with the court of appeals of the district where the officer against whom the complaint is filed resides. The judge or clerk of the court shall cause a copy of such complaint to be served upon the officer, against whom the complaint has been filed, at least ten days before the hearing upon such complaint. Such hearing shall be had within thirty days from the date of the filing of the complaint by said electors, or by the governor. The court may suspend the officer pending the hearing.

The removal proceedings filed in the court of common pleas shall be tried by a judge unless a jury trial is demanded in writing by the officer against whom the complaint has been filed. If a jury is demanded, it shall be composed of twelve persons who satisfy the qualifications of a juror specified in section 2313.17 of the Revised Code. If nine or more persons of that jury find one or more of the charges in the complaint are true, such jury shall return a finding for the removal of the officer, which finding shall be filed with the clerk of the court and be made a matter of public record. If less than nine persons of that jury find that the charges on the complaint are true, the jury shall return a finding that the complaint be dismissed. The proceedings had by a judge upon such removal shall be matters of public record and a full detailed statement of the reasons for such removal shall be filed with the clerk of the court and shall be made a matter of public record.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.81, HB 268, §1, eff. 5/22/2012.

Effective Date: 08-22-1995 .