The Supreme Court of Ohio
& The Ohio Judicial System

June 28, 2011
Law and Leadership Students Hear from Justice Lanzinger

A group of 30 ninth-grade students listened today to their hometown Supreme Court of Ohio Justice, Judith Ann Lanzinger, as she spoke about the possibilities of a career in law as well as her own judicial experiences.

The Law and Leadership Institute identifies promising youth from urban neighborhoods and grooms them to be future leaders in the legal profession by offering them a chance to study law during the summer at an Ohio law school. Students entering the ninth, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades began their studies Monday in six cities across the state. Justice Lanzinger visited with students studying at the University of Toledo College of Law.

Part of her message focused on encouraging students to persevere in school and in life by becoming proficient in listening, reading, thinking, writing and speaking.

“This is the third consecutive year I’ve been asked to the local Law and Leadership classes,” Justice Lanzinger told the group. “Every time is a treat for me, since I meet such fine young people as yourselves. I hope each and every one of you stays with the program all the way through high school. I know it’s tough giving up a portion of your summer, but later on you will appreciate this experience even more.”

The institute began in 2008 in Cleveland and Columbus and expanded to Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo in 2009.

Partners for the 2010 institute include the Supreme Court, the Ohio Center for Law Related Education, the Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio’s metropolitan bar associations, city school districts and Ohio’s eight other law schools: the University of Akron School of Law, Capital University Law School, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, the University of Dayton School of Law, Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, and the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

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 6th 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. She currently chairs the Supreme Court’s Commission on Superintendence, which recommends rules for all Ohio courts.

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.