Judges have many diverse responsibilities inside and outside of the courtroom.  Their most obvious responsibility is to impartially, competently, and diligently perform their adjudicative duties.  In addition, judges serve as the appointing authority—and therefore employer—for most court employees. For more than 30 years, our office has counseled Ohio judges in all aspects of their legal and ethical responsibilities.

Our principal areas of expertise include:
 

Planning Ahead - Employment and other Administrative Counseling

• Audits and recommendations regarding  internal best practices, forms, and handbooks for compliance with employment and civil rights law
• Providing targeted training to judges, court managers, supervisors, and employees
• Assisting courts in addressing their local funding authorities regarding budgeting, facilities, staffing, and other administrative concerns

Immediate, Real-Time Assistance Hotline

• Aiding courts in addressing administrative issues that involve employment law or civil rights compliance, such as disability accommodation; employee hiring, discipline, and termination issues; addressing employee leaves of absence; wage and hour concerns; and workplace harassment
• Advising on compliance with the Code of Judicial Conduct
• Addressing public records requests and judicial subpoenas
• Responding to media inquiries

Defending the Past - Defense in Litigation and Administrative Hearings

• Employment law claims before administrative agencies
• Civil rights and employment law suits
• Judicial ethics investigations
• Disciplinary actions
• Extraordinary writs and affidavits of disqualification