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Nearly 1,000 new attorneys were sworn in today during special public sessions of the Supreme Court of Ohio at the historic Ohio Theatre in downtown Columbus.
Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger served as the keynote speaker at both ceremonies. She welcomed the newly admitted attorneys to the practice of law and urged them to treat their clients with respect, compassion and humanity. “You’ve chosen a valiant profession, one that can help others in these particularly difficult economic times,” Justice Lanzinger said. “In seeking your legal help, your clients will actually be entrusting you with their lives. So listen carefully to their stories and respond to their needs. Represent them ardently and champion their causes.”
Justice Terrence O’Donnell led the new attorneys in the professional oath. The group represented the laws schools of the University of Akron, Capital University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Cincinnati, Cleveland State University, University of Dayton, Northern Kentucky University, Ohio Northern University, The Ohio State University, the University of Toledo and out-of-state law schools.
Lisa Weekley Coulter, a member of the Board of Bar Examiners, and Michael P. Morrison, chairman of the Board of Bar Examiners, presented motions to admit the successful applicants at the morning and afternoon ceremonies respectively. Also present at the ceremonies were Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer and Justices Paul E. Pfeifer, Evelyn Lundberg Stratton and Robert R. Cupp.
Gary J. Leppla, president of the Ohio State Bar Association, and Jack Guttenberg, dean of the Capital University Law School, offered remarks.
OSBA President Leppla encouraged new attorneys to “talk shop” with experienced attorneys who are always eager to share. “The OSBA is their partner in practice as well,” he said. “It will be a pleasure to see these new lawyers put their legal expertise to work for their clients and for our society. Regardless of the career path they choose within this wonderful profession, they should always give back … to mentor, volunteer and contribute … and lead by example for their colleagues, their friends and their families.”
Dean Guttenberg’s remarks focused on the legal profession. “Today you join a noble and honorable profession – a profession that has a long history of protecting the rights of the individual, promoting democracy and helping resolve disputes in a peaceful manner… a profession that recognizes the great privileges that have been vested on it… and the responsibility it has to give back to our communities.”
The attorneys sworn in today passed the July 2008 bar examination and satisfied all of the Supreme Court’s other requirements for admission. Out of the 1,206 applicants who sat for the exam, 1,016 (84.3 percent) received passing scores; out of 1,093 first-time applicants, 88.8 percent received passing scores. Capital University (94 percent) had the highest passing rate for first-time applicants.
Following the ceremonies, new attorneys visited the Ohio Judicial Center, including the Supreme Court Courtroom and the Law Library. In addition, staff from the Office of Attorney Services helped new attorneys register.
Archived video of the oath of office sessions is available on the Supreme Court’s Web site (www.supremecourtofohio.gov) as well as the Ohio Channel (www.ohiochannel.org). In addition, the sessions will be available statewide on the Ohio Channel’s local public broadcasting stations, which reach more than 4 million homes. The sessions will air on the Ohio Channel from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25 and 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 14.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.