COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Supreme Court has released its 2024 attorney disciplinary case statistics, revealing an increase in disbarments, term suspensions, and disciplinary actions compared to previous years. The report provides insight into the top offenses leading to attorney discipline, judicial misconduct cases, and the court’s decisions on recommended sanctions.
Increase in Disciplinary Cases and Sanctions
The Supreme Court decided on 44 disciplinary cases in 2024, a significant increase from 22 in 2023 and 31 in 2022. The number of disbarments reached five, marking the first recorded disbarments in three years.
Other notable sanction trends included:
- Public reprimands rose to five, up from three in 2023.
- Term suspensions jumped to 28, a sharp increase from 16 in the prior year.
- Indefinite suspensions remained steady at six, mirroring 2022’s total.
The court upheld 84% of board-recommended sanctions, modifying 16%—either increasing or decreasing penalties based on case specifics.
Top Five Offenses Leading to Discipline in 2024
The most common reasons for attorney discipline last year were:
- Neglect or failure to protect a client’s interest (21%)
- Judicial misconduct (8%)
- Excessive fees (7%)
- Misrepresentation or false statements (6%)
- Trial misconduct and IOLTA violations (4%)
Judicial Misconduct Cases and Attorney Grievances
The court also reviewed four judicial misconduct cases in 2024, matching the totals from 2022. Three cases involved violations under Rule V, while one case was related to judicial campaign misconduct. An additional five cases remained pending at the end of the year.
Attorney grievances remained a significant issue, with 4,052 total grievances filed in 2024. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) investigated 76% of these cases, with 24% being handled by certified grievance committees.
Financial Impact: Client Compensation and Awards
In 2024, the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awarded $744,986 to victims of attorney misconduct, slightly down from $749,942 in 2023. These funds are allocated to compensate clients financially harmed by their attorneys, often due to misappropriation of funds or unethical billing practices.
Trends and Notable Findings
- More attorneys with prior discipline faced new sanctions. In 2024, 32% of disciplined attorneys had a previous record, up from 18% in 2023.
- License reinstatements declined. Only eight attorneys regained their licenses upon application, down from nine in 2023.
- Judicial misconduct dismissals were rare, with only one case dismissed due to resignation with discipline pending.
Looking Ahead
The increase in disciplinary actions in 2024 suggests a heightened focus on attorney accountability and stricter enforcement of professional conduct rules. With more attorneys facing suspensions and disbarments, the legal community may see continued scrutiny on ethics and client protection measures in 2025.
The full 2024 Disciplinary Case Report is available through the Ohio Supreme Court’s disciplinary division for attorneys, judicial officers, and the public to review.