Roger Estill v. Georgianna Cool , 295 F. App'x 25 ( 2008 )

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 08a0580n.06
Filed: September 29, 2008
No. 08-4190
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
ROGER M. ESTILL, et al., )
)
Plaintiffs-Appellants, )
)
v. ) ON APPEAL FROM THE
) UNITED STATES DISTRICT
GEORGIANNA COOL, et al., ) COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN
) DISTRICT OF OHIO
Defendants-Appellees. )
)
BOGGS, Chief Judge; MERRITT and GRIFFIN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM
Plaintiff Roger M. Estill (Estill) filed a nominating petition to be an independent candidate
for Sheriff of Holmes County, Ohio, in the November 2008 general election. After his candidacy
was contested, the Holmes County Board of Elections determined that Estill did not meet the
qualifications to run for Sheriff under Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 311.01(B)(8) (West 2008) because
he had not been employed as a full-time peace or law enforcement officer within specified times
preceding the election. Estill and a registered Holmes County voter who wishes to vote for Estill
then filed this civil rights action challenging the constitutionality of the full-time employment
No. 08-4190
Estill v. Cool
requirement. They also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction directing that his name be placed
on the November 2008 ballot.
The district court denied the motion for a preliminary injunction in an order entered on
September 11, 2008. The plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal and moved in the district court for an
injunction pending appeal. The district court denied that motion on September 19, 2008, and the
plaintiffs have now renewed their motion in this court. The defendants have filed responses in
opposition. Upon examination, this panel unanimously agrees that oral argument is not needed. Fed.
R. App. P. 34(a).
After the Holmes County Board of Elections determined that he did not meet
§ 311.01(B)(8)’s experience requirement,1 Estill brought suit in the United States District Court for
the Southern District of Ohio. Estill challenged the constitutionality of § 311.01(B)(8) and sought
a temporary injunction to have his name added to the ballot as a candidate for Holmes County
Sheriff. Judge Frost denied the temporary injunction, and Estill appeals, also seeking an injunction
pending appeal, which would give him the same relief.
The request for an injunction from us essentially reprises the arguments for reversing Judge
Frost’s decision denying the temporary injunction, and we consider both together.
1
Section 311.01(B)(8) also requires that a candidate for Sheriff have a valid peace officer
certificate of training from one of two Ohio state commissions. Ohio Rev. Code Ann.
§ 311.01(B)(8). Estill does not challenge the certification requirement, and there is no evidence or
even an allegation that the certification requirement is being used to improperly influence the
makeup of ballots for the office of Sheriff.
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No. 08-4190
Estill v. Cool
We review the denial of a temporary injunction for abuse of discretion and we evaluate the
request for an injunction under the familiar four-factor test of Mich. Coal. of Radioactive Material
Users, Inc. v. Griepentrog, 945 F.2d 150, 153 (6th Cir. 1991).2 Since we review the denial of a
temporary injunction based on the same four-factor test, both substantive inquiries are essentially
the same.
We hold that Judge Frost did not abuse his discretion in weighing the four factors and
therefore affirm his judgment. We also deny the request for an injunction pending appeal because
Estill has not demonstrated a right to injunctive relief pending appeal under the four-factor test.
We emphasize that the public interest in orderly election administration militates in favor of
holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion. In particular, the difficulty in altering the
ballot printing and distribution at this late date (it is scheduled to begin on September 30) weighs
heavily against an injunction. Furthermore, as is set out more fully in Judge Frost’s well-reasoned
opinion, Estill’s attack on § 311.01(B)(8)’s experience requirement does not have a strong likelihood
of success. Several cases have upheld this and similar requirements, and Estill cites none–and this
court is aware of none–that have found such a requirement unconstitutional. See Cicchino v. Luse,
2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10314 (S.D. Ohio) (upholding § 311.01(B)(8)’s training and certification
requirement for Sheriff candidates); Aey v. Mahoning County Bd. of Elections, 2008 U.S. Dist.
2
The four factors are: (1) whether the applicants have demonstrated a likelihood of success
on the merits; (2) whether the applicants will be irreparably injured absent a stay; (3) whether
issuance of the stay will substantially injure the other interested parties; and (4) where the public
interest lies. Mich. Coal., 945 F.2d at 153.
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No. 08-4190
Estill v. Cool
LEXIS 19247 (N.D. Ohio) (upholding Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 311.01(B)(9)’s supervisory
experience and education requirements for Sheriff candidates); State ex rel. Watson v. Hamilton
County Bd. of Elections, 88 Ohio St. 3d 239 (2000) (same).
For the reasons above, the district court’s denial of a temporary injunction is AFFIRMED
and the motion for an injunction pending appeal is DENIED. The mandate will issue forthwith.
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