The Supreme Court of Ohio
& The Ohio Judicial System

Nov. 9, 2011
Justice Lanzinger Welcomes New Lawyers

Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger gave the keynote speech to more than 900 new attorneys after they took the oath of office on Nov. 7 at the Ohio Theatre.

During the Bar Admissions ceremony, immediately after they were sworn in, Justice Lanzinger told the new attorneys, “Your status has changed. You are now a lawyer. You are now an attorney at law. What you say and what you sign guarantees trust, for as your oath said, 'you are an officer of the court.' You now officially belong in the land of the law.”

More than 81 percent of the 1,176 applicants who sat in the July 2011 exam received passing scores and satisfied all of the Supreme Court’s other admissions requirements. Justice Lanzinger said the new attorneys are the future leaders of the practicing bar of Ohio and wished them successful careers in helping others.

“The heart and the soul of your practice will always be your clients. Their problems are paramount. Their needs and wishes must always be considered,” Justice Lanzinger said. “You will have the important distinction of being able to speak for those who can't speak for themselves and to stand up for others as their legal representatives. As an attorney you have the tools to help those most in need."

Now serving her second six-year term on the Supreme Court, Justice Lanzinger is the only person ever elected to every level of Ohio’s judiciary. The 150^th Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, she previously served on the Sixth District Court of Appeals for Ohio, the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas and the Toledo Municipal Court. Her varied judicial experience allows her a unique perspective of the state court system.

View the complete text of Justice Lanzinger's keynote speech.

For a high-resolution, print-quality photo of Justice Lanzinger, visit: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/PIO/news/images/justices/lanzinger_highres.zip.

Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.