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Aug. 18, 2008
Supreme Court Seeks Public Comment on Judicial Education Requirements

The Supreme Court of Ohio will accept public comment until Sept. 17 about a proposed increase in judicial ethics and professionalism instruction for full-time judges.

The proposed amendments concern Rule IV, Section 2 of the Rules for the Government of the Judiciary of Ohio and would increase the number of instructional hours related to judicial ethics and professionalism from two to four.

The four hours of instruction would consist of:

• At least two hours on access to justice and fairness in the courts and how they impact the public’s trust and confidence in the judicial system and perception of the administration of justice in Ohio’s courts, through a curriculum developed and offered by the Ohio Judicial College.
• At least 30 minutes on substance abuse and mental health issues and their causes, prevention, detection and treatment alternatives.
• Instruction on the Ohio Ethics Law, Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and the Judicial Creed.

Full-time judges must complete and report a minimum of 40 hours of instruction every two years on subjects devoted to the law and judicial administration. Judges must compete at least 10 hours of instruction of the 40 through the Ohio Judicial College on topics other than judicial ethics, professionalism, substance abuse and mental health issues.

For complete language of the proposed rule amendments, please visit: http://rules.supremecourtofohio.gov/rules. Comments on the proposed amendments should be submitted in writing to: Steven C. Hollon, Administrative Director, Supreme Court of Ohio, 65 South Front Street, 7^th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or hollons@sconet.state.oh.us or johnsonc@sconet.state.oh.us.

Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.