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The Trial Sam Sheppard
Sam Sheppard was found guilty of murdering his wife, Marilyn Sheppard. Jury returns verdict of murder in the second degree.
Trial and Jury -
Ohio Court of Appeals
He appealed that conviction and judgment to this court in State v. Sheppard, ante, 345, which judgment was affirmed. -
Ohio Supreme Court
It is ordered and adjudged that this appeal as of right be, and the same hereby is, dismissed for the reason that no debatable constitutional question is involved. The retrial was dismissed. -
United States Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court strikes down Sam’s request for a new trial. Appeal and Judge -
District Court
District Court Judge calls the 1954 trial a "mockery of justice" that violated Sheppard's 14th Amendment rights to due process. The State is ordered to release Sheppard and gives the prosecutor 60 days to bring charges, otherwise the case would be dismissed permanently. Appeal and Judge. -
The State of Ohio Appeals the District Court
The State of Ohio appeals the District Court ruling to a U.S. Court of Appeals. The ruling is reversed. Bailey appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court on writ of certiorari; the U.S. Supreme Court grants certiorari to hear the Sheppard v. Maxwell federal habeas corpus case. Appeal and Judge. -
Sheppard v. Maxwell
In Sheppard v. Maxwell, by an 8-1 vote, the United States Supreme Court concludes that Sam did not receive a fair trial consistent with the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment and orders the murder verdict invalid. Days later, Prosecutor John Corrigan announces Sam will be re-tried. Appeal and Judge. -
Sam is Retried Again
Sam is retried. The jury deliberates for less than one day and finds Sam not guilty. Trial and Jury -
The Sheppard Estate Files for Declaration of Innocence and Finds in Favor of the State of Ohio
On July 24th, 1996 Davis v. State of Ohio, the Sheppard Estate files a civil action against the State of Ohio Cuyahoga County Prosecutor seeking a declaration of innocence and a determination of wrongful imprisonment under the original Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas criminal case. The case is closed in August 1996 because the defendant, Sam Sheppard, is deceased. On April 12, 2000 the Jury finds in favor of the State of Ohio after an eight-week trial. Trial and Jury -
The Ohio Supreme Court
The Ohio Supreme Court clears the way for trial by ruling against a request by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor to stop the suit by Sam Reese Sheppard against the State of Ohio for wrongfully imprisoning his father. Appeal and Judge. -
The Sheppard Estate Appeals to the Eight District Court of Appeals
The Sheppard Estate appeals to the Eighth District Court of Appeals, who finds that the civil suit should never have proceeded to trial because such a claim abated upon the death of Sam Sheppard. Appeal and Judge.