The legal team for Mackenzie Shirilla are asking the Ohio Supreme Court to reopen her direct appeal arguing her former appellate lawyer was ineffective.
Shirilla was convicted of murder after driving more than 95 mph in a 35 mph zone into a brick building in July of 2022. The crash killed passengers Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan. Russo was her boyfriend at the time.
Shirilla waived a jury trial and was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years.
A memorandum filed September 28 new attorneys argue Shirilla’s orginial appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge her trial counsel’s performance.
Cuyahoga county prosecutor’s office urged the court to decline jurisdiction, arguing that continued representation does not establish a good cause for delay.
Shirilla’s case has been denied by the Supreme Court 3 times since May of 2025 .
The Ohio Supreme court has not yet made a decision whether it will hear the case.