Cleveland attorney Marvin L. Karp serves as chair of the Commission on Professionalism.

Cleveland attorney Marvin L. Karp serves as chair of the Commission on Professionalism.

The Ohio Supreme Court has made several appointments to a commission that promotes professionalism among attorneys admitted to practice law in Ohio and aspires to advance the highest standards of integrity and honor among members of the legal profession.

The appointees to the Commission on Professionalism include:

• Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard L. Collins Jr.

• Cincinnati attorney Doug Dennis, with Frost Brown Todd in Cincinnati.

• Muskingum County Domestic Relations Court Judge Jeffrey A. Hooper.

• Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Brendan J. Sheehan.

The Supreme Court also reappointed two members:

• Capital University School of Law Professor Michael Distelhorst.

• Akron attorney Michael Robinson, who works in private practice.

Cleveland attorney Marvin L. Karp, a partner at Ulmer & Berne with more than 50 years of experience, leads the commission as chair. Karp is in the final year of his second term. While the commission celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, Karp has been there from the beginning as he served on the committee that preceded the commission.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O’Donnell serves as the commission’s vice chair.
The commission’s membership (two current vacancies) consists of five judges, six lawyers, two law school administrators or faculty, and two persons not admitted to practice law in any state. Commissioners are appointed for three-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive full terms.

Commissions are created by action of the Supreme Court. They exercise quasi-ministerial authority on behalf of the court and operate under rules or regulations adopted by the Supreme Court. Commission members serve by appointment of the chief justice and justices or a bar association.