March 3, 2026, 10 a.m. in Tilton Hall, Room 129
Free and open to the public. Business attire is required and observers must be seated by 9:40 a.m. Court is in session promptly at 10 a.m.

FROM FACEBOOK__The Third District Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments at Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law on Tuesday, March 3.

Two cases will be heard, including one criminal case, State of Ohio v. Robby Maynard, and one civil case, Patty Auck v. Mark E. Stump.

In State of Ohio v. Robby Maynard, the appeal asks the court to decide whether a guilty plea should remain valid when it was entered immediately after the defendant suffered a serious medical emergency in the courtroom. Specifically, the case examines whether the trial court should have allowed the plea to be withdrawn before sentencing, whether defense counsel provided effective representation by permitting the plea to go forward under those circumstances, and whether the plea itself was truly knowing, voluntary and informed, given the defendant’s medical condition at the time.  

In Patty Auck v. Mark E. Sump, attorneys will argue whether a man who was legally declared a child’s father more than 30 years ago can now be relieved of that paternity determination—and the related child-support obligation—after learning through later DNA evidence that he is not the biological father. The Appellant argues that the trial court denied him due process by adopting a magistrate’s decision without proper authority, misinterpreted Ohio’s paternity-relief statutes in a way that prevented court-ordered genetic testing, and improperly refused to reopen the case despite evidence that the original paternity finding may have been based on misinformation or concealment.

At the conclusion of the cases, the appellate judges will take questions from the audience.

The judges that will be in attendance are the Honorable John R. Willamowski, JD ’85, the Honorable Mark C. Miller, JD ’91, and the Honorable William R. Zimmerman, JD ’79.

The event is free and open to the public. Business attire is required and observers must be seated by 9:40 a.m. Court is in session promptly at 10 a.m.