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OJARP Application Process
 
Interested in applying for a vacancy? Do you meet the requirements for appointment?

The process you must follow to be considered for appointment is set forth on this page.

 

Below please find a graphical summary of the process (click arrow in upper-right corner to expand).  You can also download a .PDF copy of this chart by clicking here: OJARP Process Chart

 


Here are some documents that may be helpful to you as you work through the application process:

OJARP Application Rules

OJARP Applicant Checklist

OJARP Personal and Professional Standards (General Evaluation Criteria) 

OJARP Questionnaire ( New Interactive .PDF Form) **REQUIRED***

Note:  If you are unable to input and save information using our interactive .PDF OJARP Questionnaire, you may want to try this free software (PDFUndo) which converts .PDF documents to modifiable Word documents: http://pdfundo.net/convert/Default.aspx.   

 

You might also find answers about the OJARP process in this PowerPoint (.PDF format) as presented at the Cincinnati College of Law on February 4, 2009: OJARP Powerpoint Presentation

 

 

Required Application Materials:

  • Applicant’s Letter of Interest. Letters of interest may provide any information or address any topic that the Applicant believes may be helpful to Panel Members in their review of potential appointees. However, it is strongly suggested that letters of interest address, at a minimum, the following issues: 
    • The Applicant’s background and ability to serve fairly and effectively; 
    •  
      The Applicant’s contribution to bringing diverse perspectives to Ohio’s judiciary; and
    •  
      The Applicant's ability to effectively campaign to retain his or her seat if appointed. 

 

  • OJARP Questionnaire. The OJARP Questionnaire must be completed in full (no questions left unanswered).

The OJARP Questionnaire is posted here in interactive .PDF format: OJARP Questionnaire

If you are unable to download a copy of the OJARP Questionnaire, please contact the Governor's Office at 614-466-3555 or mailto:ojarp@governor.ohio.gov so that a copy of the questionnaire can be mailed to you. 

 

NOTE:  If you are unable to answer any question in the OJARP Questionnaire in the space provided, you may attach additional pages to the Questionnaire as needed.  Additionally, feel free to cut-and-paste the Questionnaire into a word processing document, or to simply re-type the Questionnaire.  So long as all Questionnaire is completed in full, and the document you submit follows the same general layout of the Questionnaire, your Application will be accepted and reviewed by the Panel.

  •  Resume. Resumes need not conform to any specific format, but should include the following information:

    • Full contact information;
    • Educational background and degrees/ certificates received;
    • Full employment history (minimum of ten (10) years). 

 

  • Letters of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation may provide any information or address any topic that the reference believes may be helpful to Panel Members in their review of potential appointees. However, it is strongly suggested that letters of recommendation address the Applicant’s integrity, temperament, industry, and professional competence; it is further strongly encouraged that letters of recommendation address those three (3) issues outlined above for consideration in an Applicant’s letter of interest. 
    • Limit on Letters of Recommendation. Applicants may submit to the Panel a maximum of six (6) letters of recommendation. Applicants should directly submit those six (6) letters of recommendation they wish to be reviewed by the Panel; unsolicited letters of recommendation or those that are not submitted directly by the Applicant will not be included in the materials forwarded to Panel Members for review. 

     

    • Panel Members as Reference. Applicants must not use the name of any current Panel Member (At-Large or Regional) as a reference, nor request a letter of recommendation from any Panel Member.


What to do with Your Application Materials:

  • Application Packet. Applicants are strongly encouraged to send all required application materials in one mailing or packet; such a procedure will enable efficient distribution of material to Panel Members for review. 

 

  • Application Binder. Application materials forwarded in support of an application must be sent directly to the Panel at the Governor’s Office.   The Governor's Office will then distribute the materials to both At-Large and Regional Panel Members.

Applicants must provide the original and five (5) copies of any materials sent in support of their application. All original and copies of application materials must be hole-punched and submitted to the Governor’s Office in ONE (1) standard three ring binder.

 

Applicants do not need to submit a binder for each copy of their application materials.  The five (5) copies of Application Materials may be submitted in ONE (1) single binder.  You DO NOT need to send in five (5) individual binders. 

 

Since this requirement has caused a lot of confusion, here is what one standard three ring binder looks like:

  • Submission of Application Materials to the Governor's Office. All materials forwarded in support of an application must be sent to the following address:

Office of the Governor
c/o Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panel
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6108

    • Application Materials may be sent by U.S. Mail, courier, commercial package delivery or hand-delivery to the above address. 

 

    • All Application Materials should clearly reference the judicial vacancy to which the Applicant seeks appointment.

 

Timeline for Submission of Application Materials:  

 

  • Posting of Deadlines and Timelines. OJARP will post specific deadlines and timelines for submission and review of application materials at the time of the initial posting of a new judicial vacancy. You can view the deadlines and timelines on the Calendar page on this website. 

 

  •  
    All Application Materials to be Received by 5:00 PM on Final Due Date. All Application Materials must be received in the Governor’s Office by 5:00 PM on the date posted as the final due date.  

 

Public Records:

 

  • All Application Materials to be Posted Online.  Although OJARP is a purely advisory panel and is not subject to Ohio Public Records or Open Meetings law, information exchanged with the Office of the Governor is open to public inspection under the Ohio Public Records Act unless an exemption applies.  All Application Materials will be posted on this website; redactions will be made to personal information (DOB, home address, perosnal phone numbers, etc...)