Articles - Sharon L. Kennedy

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon L. Kennedy spoke to members of the Ohio State Coroners Association at their annual conference held in Cincinnati on May 10, 2014. Her presentation covered the topic of handling evidence and search rules in the context of a crime scene.

In her speech titled "Near the Body," Justice Kennedy shared from her past experience as a police officer arriving on the scene of a crime and explored the conflicts that can arise between a coroner and local law enforcement.

Describing the distinctions between each party's duties at the scene, Justice Kennedy contrasted the coroner's duty to determine the physical and medical causes of death with the law enforcement officials' duty to discover "whether or not another person unlawfully caused the death."

She followed up with an overview of the laws establishing authority within a crime scene, and examined the scope of authority delegated to the coroner. In conclusion, Justice Kennedy outlined recommended procedures for ensuring that all concerned parties—coroner, prosecutor, attorney general, and other law enforcement personnel—work together smoothly and effectively.

Justice Kennedy is serving her first term on the Supreme Court of Ohio. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Justice Kennedy served on the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division from 1999 to 2012. Justice Kennedy served as the administrative judge there from 2005 until December 2012. Justice Kennedy began her career in the justice system as a police officer in Hamilton, Ohio. She received her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.