From left: Robert V. Morris and Leo Spellacy.

From left: Robert V. Morris and Leo Spellacy.

The Ohio Supreme Court board that investigates the unauthorized practice of law has re-elected its leadership for next year.

Robert V. Morris II, the administrative magistrate at the Franklin County Probate Court, will serve a second year as chair of the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) and Leo Spellacy Jr., a partner at Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP in Cleveland, was re-elected vice chair.

Two members are leaving the board on Dec. 31. John J. Chester Jr., a former UPL board chair and a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Columbus, served two terms. Julie P. Hubler of Hubler & Hubler, LLC of Columbus is leaving after a three-year term.

Established by Rule VII of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, the UPL board consists of 13 members who are appointed to three-year terms by the Supreme Court. The board conducts hearings, preserves the record, and makes findings and recommendations to the Court in cases involving the alleged unauthorized practice of law.

The board is also authorized to issue informal, nonbinding advisory opinions on matters concerning the unauthorized practice of law.