The Ohio Supreme Court will accept public comment on proposed amendments to the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio and the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary of Ohio. The proposed amendments address the process for investigating and prosecuting allegations of professional misconduct by Ohio judges and attorneys.

The proposed amendments come as a result of recommendations made by a task force convened by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. The task force was formed to examine the state’s disciplinary system and released its final report in September 2019.

The report includes a variety of recommendations to the Court aimed at improving and promoting trust in the disciplinary system.

Proposals include:

• Expanding the role and responsibilities of local bar counsel in certified grievance committee investigations and prosecutions
• Streamlining and improving the process for investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating grievances against Supreme Court justices
• Creating procedures to address lawyer and judicial fitness questions that arise during a disciplinary investigation
• Expediting disciplinary cases, through measures such as service by electronical mail and the use of disciplinary orders in lieu of full opinions in certain cases
• Increasing the time limit for filing a claim for reimbursement with the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection and increasing the maximum reimbursement amount to $100,000.

Public comment should be submitted in writing or via email by March 26 to:

John VanNorman
Chief Legal Counsel
Ohio Supreme Court
65 S. Front St., Seventh Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3431
or
ruleamendments@sc.ohio.gov.