A complaint praying for an investigation of the official conduct of an officer liable to impeachment may be presented to the house of representatives. The person preferring such complaint may take depositions of witnesses to substantiate the complaint, and use such depositions as testimony before the house, in determining whether it will impeach such officer. Such depositions may be taken before a person authorized by law to take depositions.

Terms Used In Ohio Code 101.47

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
  • Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

Notice of the time and place of taxing such depositions shall be given in the manner required by sections 2319.15 to 2319.17 of the Revised Code; but if the officer against whom the complaint is made or is about to be made is out of the state, notice may be left at his place of residence in the state. If he has no known place of residence in the state, such notice may be published in a newspaper published in the county of the state where he last resided, for three consecutive weeks next preceding the time of taking the depositions.

If an impeachment is preferred to the senate, and the officer impeached is convicted, the person who has caused depositions to be taken shall be allowed the legal fees accruing thereon.