Ohio S.Ct.Prac.R. 14.01

(A) General

(1) To invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court pursuant to Article II,

Section 1g of the Ohio Constitution, for the purpose of challenging an initiative,

supplementary, or referendum petition or the signatures upon such petition, a party shall

file a challenge with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The challenge shall meet both of the

following requirements:

(a) It shall designate on the cover page that it challenges an initiative,

supplementary, or referendum petition pursuant to Article II, Section 1g of the Ohio

Constitution.

(b) It shall contain a statement of the reasons for the challenge and a specific

statement of facts upon which the challenge is based.

(2) The party filing a challenge shall be referred to as the relator. The secretary of state

and the party submitting the petition that is the subject of the challenge shall be referred to

as the respondents.

(B) Burden of relator

The relator shall have the burden of demonstrating by a preponderance of the evidence that

the petition or signatures thereon do not comply with applicable law.

(C) Applicable rules

(1) In all challenge proceedings filed under this rule, these rules shall govern the

procedure and the form of all documents.

(2) The Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure and the Ohio Rules of Evidence, including those

related to depositions, interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and

subpoenas, shall supplement these rules unless clearly inapplicable. Where these rules

conflict with the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure or the Ohio Rules of Evidence, these rules

shall control.

(D) Procedure

The Clerk of the Supreme Court shall issue a summons and serve a copy of the challenge

by certified mail sent to the address of the respondent as indicated on the cover page of the

challenge. The summons shall inform the respondent of the time to respond to the

challenge.

(E) Reference to a master commissioner; oral argument

(1) The Supreme Court may refer challenge actions to a master commissioner for any

purpose, including resolving discovery disputes and conducting hearings for the

presentation of evidence.

(2) The Supreme Court may also order oral argument before the court.

(F) Power of Supreme Court

In a challenge to an initiative, supplementary, or referendum petition brought under Article

II, Section 1g of the Ohio Constitution, the Supreme Court may do all things necessary for

an efficient and timely ruling on the challenge. The Supreme Court may sua sponte, or on

motion by a party, issue a procedural order to govern the receipt of evidence, filing of

briefs, conduct of hearings, and manner for ruling on any challenges.

(G) Service

All documents filed under this rule, except those filed to institute a case, shall be served by

personal service, or e-mail on the date of the documents’ submission for filing.