Recent News

January 22, 2010

Perimeter Defense

~ written by Bruce Campbell, Columbus Bar Counsel

The Home Guard of the legal profession in Ohio is the attorney disciplinary system under the generalship of the Supreme Court of Ohio and its Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Disciple. The Guard’s mission is to protect the public and the profession from those who would trench upon ethical standards. The Guard’s “boots on the ground” consist of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and a network of Certified Grievance Committees of local bar associations around the state and the OSBA.

Listed on this page is the current-duty roster of the Columbus Bar’s Ethics Committee – a judge, thirty one lawyers, and six non-lawyers (who make sure the Committee remains cognizant of the public’s interest). Columbus Bar Presidents appoint committee members to serve staggered, four-year terms. Most enlist, but conscription occasionally occurs. Raw recruits go through boot camp.

Once on the front, the troops bear the responsibility for carefully and objectively investigating grievances against lawyers (and, on occasion, judges) that come to the attention of the Columbus Bar. Collectively, they must determine whether alleged violations of the Ohio Rules of Professional Responsibility require the initiation of formal disciplinary proceedings. When the Committee votes to file a formal case, teams of the lawyer-members act as Relator’s Counsel before the Board and the Supreme Court.

To a person, those chosen for this service are savvy, fair-minded individuals who take this job very seriously and devote an astonishing amount of time to it. They serve without pay, glory or even a decent uniform allowance. Saluting is not required, but a commendation is in order here.

Rev. Timothy Ahrens
Randall S. Arndt
Leon D. Bass
Melissa A. Black
Margaret L. Blackmore
David S. Bloomfield
Michael L. Close, Vice Chair
Kevin R. Craine
Judge David W. Fais
Bradley Frick
Jeffrey D. Fortkamp
Terrence A. Grady
Beverly J. Graves
Prof. Arthur F. Greenbaum
Debbie Hamilton
John Hartranft, Sr.
Joseph Holdrieth, CPA
Janine Jones
Paul W. Leithart, II
Michael S. Loughry
Pamela N. Maggied
Dennis W. McNamara
Robert J. Morje
Angela Pace
Joanne S. Peters
James E. Phillips
Lynn Readey
William A. Reddington
Lisa Pierce Reisz
Thomas Rice
Adam Rinehart
Jeffrey C. Rogers
Bridgette C. Roman
Terry K. Sherman
Heather G. Sowald, Chair
Prof. Yvonne L. Twiss
James P. Tyack
Anne Valentine