Supreme Court of Ohio 2006 Annual Report - Supreme Court - State ...

The supreme Court has the constitutional
responsibility to oversee the practice of law in the
state, and as a result has developed one of the most
comprehensive disciplinary systems of any state in
the nation. The Court has established three offices to
exercise independent authority in assisting the Court
in meeting its responsibility as set forth in Section 5(B),
Article IV, of the Ohio Constitution.
In addition, Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer chairs
the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission, which
was created by statute in 1990. The commission is
responsible for reviewing Ohio’s sentencing statutes
and patterns, and making recommendations regarding
necessary statutory changes.
Office of Disciplinary Counsel
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel is authorized to investigate
allegations and initiate complaints concerning misconduct
and/or mental illness of judges or attorneys under the Code
of Professional Responsibility, the Code of Judicial Conduct,
and rules governing the unauthorized practice of law,
pursuant to the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of
the Bar and Rules for the Government of the Judiciary.
In 2006, the staff included eight attorneys, one
administrative officer, one administrative assistant, two
paralegals, two full-time and one part-time investigators, four
legal secretaries, one receptionist, one clerical assistant and
one part-time student law clerk.
During 2006, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel received
3,402 matters for consideration. These included 2,374
grievances filed against attorneys and 566 grievances filed
against judges. Of these, 1,670 grievances were dismissed
at intake upon initial review and 1,263 grievance files were
opened for investigation. The office also received 329 appeals
of grievances previously dismissed by the certified grievance
committees at local bar associations, 66 allegations of the
unauthorized practice of law, five reciprocal discipline actions
and two cases involving the nonpayment of child support.
In 2006, staff attorneys appeared in 17 hearings before
panels of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances &
Discipline, and participated in 10 oral arguments before the
Supreme Court. As a result, 19 resignations were received and
10 resignation cases closed in 2006.
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