Lawyer Leaders Ohio's 133rd General Assembly

27% 22% 20% of the Senate members of the Ohio General of the House members are LAWYERS Assembly are LAWYERS are LAWYERS

The Ohio State Bar Association is a constant presence at the and the Ohio Supreme Court, advocating for the profession, for access to justice and to advance rule of law. Lawyer legislators and other attorneys in public service are integral to these efforts and moving our priority legislation forward. Through our political action committee, as well as our public education resources and long-lasting relationships with Ohio lawyer legislators, the OSBA is committed to encouraging more lawyers to serve in public office.

Meet the lawyer legislators of Ohio’s 133rd General Assembly: Lawyer-Legislators

Senator Rob McColley Senator Theresa Gavarone Senator William Coley II District 1 (R) District 3 (R) District 4 (R) Chair, Transportation, Vice-chair, Higher Education Chair, Government Oversight Commerce & Workforce Committee & Reform Committee Committee

I think an attribute all attorneys possess is a strong attention to detail and that is certainly an asset in the legislature. Understanding the effect a misplaced word or comma in a bill can have on the legislative process saves a lot of time and hassle, and is potentially the difference between the legislation getting to the Governor’s desk or dying in committee. -Senator Gavarone

OHIO LAWYER 10 SPRING 2019 Legislators must be generalists, I believe my legal training has greatly improved my ability because they deal with multiple to represent my district, especially on some of the complex subject matters. That is what many issues we consider regarding criminal justice reform. My of us do in our practices. I encourage experiences as an attorney have also helped me garner law firms to allow their lawyers to a firm understanding of topics outside of traditional legal participate in the General Assembly issues such as educating our children, new strategies to and other legislative work as public drive economic development, and the state’s complex service. -Senator Huffman budgeting process. -Senator Manning

Senator Senator Senator John Eklund District 12 (R) District 13 (R) District 18 (R) Majority floor leader Vice-chair, Judiciary Commttee Chair, Judiciary Committee

The two most useful skills I bring to the legislature as an attorney is working through conflict to reach a conclusion and understanding the language and impact of changes to the Ohio Revised Code. -Senator Dolan

Senator Larry Obhof Senator Senator Sean O'Brien District 22 (R) District 24 (R) District 32 (D) President of the Senate Chair, Senate Minority whip Finance Committee

Having a legal background helps me understand how the laws we write will be interpreted by the courts. This allows me, perhaps better than other legislators, to draft laws that are more precise and that provide more clarity concerning their intent. -Senator O'Brien

OHIO LAWYER SPRING 2019 11 Lawyer Leaders

Ohio House of Representatives Lawyer-Legislators

Rep. Robert Cupp Rep. Michael Skindell Rep. Rep. Rep. District 4 (R) District 13 (D) District 15 (D) District 17 (D) District 18 (D) Co-chair, Finance Subcommitte on Ranking member, Ranking member, Financial Ranking member, Assistant minority leader Primary & Secondary Education, Finance Subcommittee on Institutions Committee Federalism Committee Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Transportation

Every lawyer has the responsibility to preserve quality of justice. We honor past generations by ensuring our legal foundation is a pillar of our great nation. - Rep. Miller

Rep. Richard Brown Rep. David Leland Rep. Rep. Erica Crawley Rep. William Seitz District 20 (D) District 22 (D) District 23 (R) District 26 (D) District 30 (R) Ranking member, Ranking member, Criminal Assistant majority whip Member, Finance Committee Majority floor leader Civil Justice Committee Justice Committee

As a practicing attorney for 41 years, my observation is that serving in the legislature is like being in a year-round settlement conference where the issues change daily. -Rep. Seitz

OHIO LAWYER 12 SPRING 2019 Being a public servant is very rewarding. I believe my background as a magistrate provides the temperament to consider all sides of legislative issues. - Rep. Galonski

Rep. Rep. Rep. Jim Butler Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson Rep. Scott Oelsager District 34 (D) District 35 (D) District 41 (R) District 44 (D) District 48 (R) Minority leader Co-chair, Criminal Speaker pro tempore Assistant minority whip, Chair, Finance Committee Justice Subcommitte former OSBA board member on Sentencing Practicing business litigation has provided me with an understanding of the challenges My legal knowledge, especially the ability to that face Ohio’s businesses. I apply the same understand the legal implications of language, practice as a legislator to minimize costs for as well as understanding statutory interpretation taxpayers and create meaningful legislation has allowed me to better serve my constituents that will impact the future of our state. and the State of Ohio. - Rep. Oelsager -Rep. Butler

Rep. John Rogers Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. District 60 (D) District 61 (R) District 63 (D) District 76 (R) District 98 (R) Ranking member, Chair, Public Utilities Member, Ag & Rural Co-Chair, Criminal Justice Vice-chair, Financial Ways & Means Committee Committee Development Committee Subcommittee on Sentencing, Institutions Committee and Insurance Committee Former judge

"Being a lawyer has helped me to pull "Virtues such as fairness, integrity and civility back on emotional responses to proposed and striving to consider alternative methods legislation and to follow the constraints of our of resolving disputes help us strive to make constitution. Further, the mediation process the dispute a dignified one." - Rep. Rogers in trial work helps in reaching compromise on legislation." - Rep. Hillyer

OHIO LAWYER SPRING 2019 13 Lawyer Leaders

STATE LEADERS

Mike DeWine Dave Yost Keith Faber 70th Governor of 51st Ohio Attorney 33rd Ohio Auditor the State of Ohio General of State

"A training in the law opens your mind and your approach to making sure that you’re inclusive, that you’re hearing alternative viewpoints, other ways of thinking, so that you avoid unintended consequences." - Ohio AG Dave Yost

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES

Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor Justice Sharon L. Kennedy Justice Judith L. French Justice Patrick F. Fischer 148th Justice 154th Justice 155th Justice 157th Justice

First female Ohio Chief Justice OSBA Past President

Justice R. Patrick DeWine Justice Michael P. Donnelly Justice Melody J. Stewart 158th Justice 160th Justice 161st Justice

First African-American woman elected to Ohio Supreme Court

OHIO LAWYER 14 SPRING 2019