The Ohio Supreme Court has adopted rule amendments that outline under which circumstances a lawyer who is a retired or former judge may use a judicial title.

The Supreme Court added two sections to Rule 8.2: Judicial Officials of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct.

• “(c) A lawyer who is a retired or former judge or magistrate may use a title such as ‘justice,’ ‘judge,’ ‘magistrate,’ ‘Honorable’ or ‘Hon.’ when the title is preceded or followed by the word ‘retired,’ if the lawyer retired in good standing with the Supreme Court, or ‘former,’ if the lawyer, due to the loss of an election, left judicial office in good standing with the Supreme Court.”
• “(d) A lawyer who is a retired or former judge shall not state or imply that the lawyer’s former service as a judge enables the lawyer to improperly influence any person or entity, including a government agency or official, or to achieve results by means that violate the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct or other law.”

The Supreme Court also added a fourth comment to the rule.

• “[4] This rule controls over any conflicts with Advisory Opinion 93-8 and Advisory Opinion 2013-3 of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline.”

Access the complete text of the rule that takes effect on June 1.

Word files may be viewed for free with Office Online.