CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a judge’s ruling that a Lorain father would “make reasonable efforts to avoid impregnation” while on probation for failure to pay child support.

The State Supreme Court ruled in favor of London Chapman, who pleaded guilty to failure to provide child support for his eleven children. He owed more than $ 200,000. Lorain County’s probate judge James Walther suspended Chapman for five years.

One of the conditions Walther imposed was that Chapman make every effort to stop the birth of children.

Chapman’s attorney, Giovanna Bremke, said Walther’s order was unconstitutional and “neutered.” [Chapman] with paper. “She appealed the judgment to the Ohio District 9th Court of Appeals and later to the Supreme Court.

“Mr. Chapman is committed to helping his children,” said Bremke. “He plays an active role in their lives. From a financial point of view, $ 200,000 is a big mountain to climb.”

Judge R. Patrick DeWine wrote that Walther’s order was too broad and did not meet the goals of probation. With the approval of five other judges, DeWine said convicted criminals “have fewer freedom interests compared to the general population,” but the restrictions must further the goal of rehabilitation.

“The prohibition of reproduction has no reasonable connection with the goals of [probation]”Wrote DeWine.

Judge Judith French disagreed, saying Walther provided “an important justification for supporting the anti-reproductive condition”.

Walther sentenced Chapman in June 2016. The judge ordered Chapman to remain employed, owe what he owed, and undergo a drug and alcohol screening and evaluation. Chapman has 13 children, but the cases before Walther were 11.

Walther added that Chapman “will use all reasonable efforts to avoid exposure of a woman during this process [probation] or until then [Chapman] can demonstrate to the Court of Justice that he is able to support children he already has and that he is in fact supporting the children or until a change in conditions warrants their repeal [this] Condition.”

Bremke appealed, claiming the condition violated Chapman’s constitutional rights and had nothing to do with the purpose of the verdict.

The prosecutors disagreed.

They said Walther’s order “deals with the creation of additional children, additional children create additional financial obligations that are likely to contribute to the elimination of benefits in the future.”

Prosecutors also stressed that Walther’s condition violates Chapman’s privacy, but that it is permissible because Chapman, as a convicted criminal, does not enjoy “the same level of unrestricted freedom” that others enjoy.

After the conviction, the state appeals court sent the case back to Walther and ordered him to consider the question of whether the order was constitutional.

Walther sentenced Chapman again in June 2018. He again made the condition to impregnate a woman during the probationary period. The appeals court upheld the case and Bremke took it to the Ohio Supreme Court.

In June, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a pleading with the Supreme Court contradicting Walther’s parole.

“Conditions like those of Mr. Chapman are a direct attack on a fundamental right, are out of proportion to any rehabilitation purpose, and only limit the rights of those who cannot afford to pay,” the ACLU lawyers wrote.

Judges Maureen O’Connor, Sharon Kennedy, Patrick Fischer, Melody Stewart, and Michael Donnelly approved of DeWine.

Bremke said Chapman followed other measures ordered by Walther. Chapman kept his occupation “at a time when it is quite difficult”.

Messages left in Walther’s office were not returned.