Jason Meade's attorneys request change of venue for retrial in murder case
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Lawyers representing a former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy who fatally shot a Black man have requested a new venue for his second murder trial.
Jason Meade's lawyers filed a charge Thursday requesting a change of venue, which would transfer the trial from Franklin County Common Pleas Court to another jurisdiction. According to court documents, the change is requested to provide a fair jury, with Meade's lawyers arguing his name and case are too well-known in Franklin County for jurors to enter the trial without prior knowledge.
Meade's lawyers pointed to multiple cases of publicity toward the case, including coverage from local news outlets, protests and banners hung downtown. According to court documents, his first trial -- which was declared a mistrial -- had jurors passing signs, banners hanging from overpasses and a red truck parked outside the courthouse daily that all called for justice for Casey Goodson.
Meade faces one count of murder and one of reckless homicide. The deadlocked jury in his first trial could not agree on whether or not Meade was justified when he shot and killed 23-year-old Goodson.
His lawyer's also argued Franklin County elected officials have voiced biases toward the case already, further tainting the county's juror pool. They specifically mention comments made by City Attorney Zach Klein, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Columbus City Council members and newly elected Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor, who have all voiced various levels of support for Goodson's family and the case against Meade.
"Elected officials have taken on the role of social media influencers to strip our client of his most fundamental constitutional right: the right that he is presumed innocent," the venue change request reads.
The move comes after the second trial was rescheduled in September, moving from Oct. 31 to Feb. 27 of next year. The court has not yet denied or granted the request for a venue change.
In his first trial, Meade asserted he feared for his life on Dec. 4, 2020, when he shot Goodson. Meade claimed he saw Goodson waving a gun while driving and pursued him to his grandmother's house in north Columbus. Meade said Goodson was standing in the doorway of her home when he pointed his gun back toward Meade.
The prosecution argued the shooting was unjustified, pointing to the fact that his back was turned when Meade shot him, arguing he was not holding his gun in his hand and referencing phone data proving Goodson was wearing AirPods and listening to music at the time of the shooting. Goodson was shot six times, five of which hit him in the back.