In the case of Jones v. Geauga Cty Republican Party Cent. Commt., 2017-Ohio-2930, an Ohio appellate court found that a central committee of a local political party is only a public body comprised of public officers for purposes of the Ohio Open Meetings Act when the committee is actually undertaking its limited governmental duties, such as making appointments to vacant public offices, and not when it is conducting purely internal affairs.
Generally speaking, local political parties are private entities and, as a result, they are not subject to the Ohio Open Meetings Act. However, in limited circumstances, these parties are required to actually perform governmental functions – such as appointing individuals to vacant public offices. In these limited circumstances, the officers of a local political party become public officers for purposes of the Ohio Open Meetings Act and are required to follow all Ohio Open Meetings Act requirements.
To read this case, please click here.
Authors: Matthew John Markling and Patrick Vrobel
Note: This blog entry does not constitute – nor does it contain – legal advice. Legal jurisprudence is like the always changing Midwestern weather. As a result, this single blog entry cannot substitute for consultation with a McGown & Markling attorney. If legal advice is needed with respect to a specific factual situation, please feel free to contact a McGown & Markling attorney.