Supreme Court Report

Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →

Ohio v. Garry Smith

Paid petition · Supreme Court of Ohio, No. 2023-1289 · judgment December 10, 2024


Certiorari denied · October 14, 2025
Pre-decision estimate: 1% cert probability

Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.

Question presented

Because the Confrontation Clause affords criminal defendants the right during trial “to be confronted with the witnesses against” them, is the initial conversation with police officers, which was recorded on body-worn camera, nontestimonial when: (1) the injured person makes initial statements to responding officers while receiving emergency medical care for injuries of unknown origin; (2) the interaction lacks the formality and structure of an investigative interview; and (3) the statements fall within a “firmly rooted” hearsay exception indicating lack of testimonial intent?

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Daniel Tuyen Van
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office

For respondent
Erika Bloomfield Cunliffe
Couyahoga County Public Defender's Office

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 3 conferences

Amicus briefs
1 cert-stage

Proceedings

  1. Oct 14 2025
    Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent GRANTED.
  2. Oct 14 2025
    Petition DENIED.
  3. Oct 06 2025
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/10/2025.
  4. Sep 26 2025
    Rescheduled.
  5. Jul 30 2025
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
  6. Jul 29 2025
    Reply of petitioner Ohio filed. (Distributed)
  7. Jul 11 2025
    Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent Garry Smith.
  8. Jul 11 2025
    Brief of respondent Garry Smith in opposition filed.
  9. Jun 11 2025
    Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including July 14, 2025.
  10. Jun 05 2025
    Motion to extend the time to file a response from June 13, 2025 to July 14, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
  11. May 14 2025
    Brief amici curiae of Joyful Heart Foundation, et al. filed.
  12. Apr 23 2025
    Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including June 13, 2025.
  13. Apr 20 2025
    Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 14, 2025 to June 13, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
  14. Apr 14 2025
    Response Requested. (Due May 14, 2025)
  15. Mar 26 2025
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2025.
  16. Mar 19 2025
    Waiver of right of respondent Garry Smith to respond filed.
  17. Mar 10 2025
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 14, 2025)