Jeff Ruple
Lake County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Full Term Commencing Jan. 6, 2025
Candidate Details
- Residence
Kirtland - Email
rupleforjudge@gmail.com - Website
rupleforjudge.com - Social Media
facebook.com/rupleforjudge - Age
51 - Occupation
Common Pleas Judge, Lake County, Ohio - Education
Denison University, B.A. Economics and History (1994)
University of Dayton, School of Law, J.D. (1997)
- Work Experience
September 2014-2023, Partner/Founder Cardenas Ruple & Kurt, LLC fka Deacon, Cardenas & Ruple, LLC
Primarily litigation oriented firm incuding toxic tort litigation, premises liability, product liability, litigate business disputes, including contractual, insurance coverage, intellectual property, landlord/tenant, and complex commercial disputes. Also represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
June 2002 – Sept. 2014, Partner, Buckley King LPA, Cleveland, Ohio
Extensive experience in insurance coverage, insurance agent errors and omissions, product liability, premises liability, environmental, toxic tort, commercial and complex civil litigation.
January 2001-June 2002, Baughman & Associates Co., L.P.A., Cleveland, Ohio
Associate and national defense counsel for major U.S. Corporation involving defense of complex and mass tort litigation, primarily in area of product liability. Lead counsel in Ohio, Chicago, Illinois and Northern Michigan with direct supervision of local counsel in litigation activities. Also gained experience in admiralty cases.
August 1999-January 2001, Associate, Murphy & Lyons, P.S.C., Covington, Kentucky
Associate for commercial/business litigation firm. Experience also included product liability and entertainment law.
November 1997-August 1999, Associate, Falke & Dunphe, LLC, Dayton, Ohio
Associate for general practice firm. Experience in civil litigation, medical malpractice, criminal, civil rights, employment and personal injury law.
1989-1994, PREP Asphalt & Sealcoating, Cleveland, Ohio
Owned and operated local seasonal business with 350 clients, $80,000 in sales, 45 local and national suppliers, and managed up to twelve employees. Recruited, organized and trained sales team, promoted advertising campaign through direct mail, newspaper and magazine advertisements. Maintained truck fleet and machinery and supervised and coordinated work crews.
April 2023-Present, Lake County Common Pleas Judge
As a Lake County Common Pleas Judge, I have presided over 9 felony jury trials and sentenced approximately 200 defendants for crimes including murder, kidnapping, gross sexual imposition, burglary, robbery, drug-related offenses, felonious assault and countless other felonies. I also have an active civil docket where I become actively involved in the resolution of those civil cases in an attempt to bring those disputes to an economical and timely conclusion.
- Family
2 Children - Affiliations
2006 - 2014 Secretary and Board Member, Red Oak Camp, Kirtland, Ohio
2010 - 2013 President, Red Oak Camp, Kirtland, Ohio
2010 - 2015 Board Member, Learning About Business, Wickliffe, Ohio
2010 - 2018 Board Member, Fine Arts Association, Willoughby, Ohio
2016 - Present Board Member, Marilyn’s Voice, Mentor, Ohio
2015 - 2021 Board Member, Leadership Lake County, Lake County, Ohio
January 2017-2020 Board Member, Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce
2019 Adjunct Faculty Member, Cleveland Marshall College of Law
2019-2021 Ward 4, Kirtland City Council
2021-2023 President, Kirtland City Council
Ohio State Bar Association
Lake County Bar Association
Ohio Judicial Conference
- Endorsements
Lake County Republican Party
Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno
Lake County Commissioner President John T. Plecnik
Lake County Commissioner John R. Hamercheck
Lake County Commissioner Richard J. Regovich
Lake County Commissioner Candidate Morris Beverage III
Lake County Recorder Becky Lynch
Lake County Treasurer Michael Zuren
Lake County Auditor Christopher Galloway
Willoughby Mayor Robert A. Fiala
Willowick Mayor Michael J. Vanni
Mentor City Councilman Mark T. Freeman4
Mentor City Councilman John A. Krueger
Mentor City Councilman Scott J. Marn
Kirtland City Councilman Matthew Schulz
Kirtland City Councilman Joseph Smolic
Kirtland City Councilman Scott Haymer
Kirtland City Councilman Ronald Fenstermaker
Kirtland City Councilwoman Sue Grazia
Painesville Township Trustee Chuck Hillier
Jeff Ruple
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Judge Lake County Court of Common Pleas (April 2023-Present)
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersLake County Court of Common Pleas, April 2023-Present
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I believe that a good judge must first be a good listener. It is essential to listen to the lawyers who present their cases because they know their clients and issues intimately. By listening, judges ensure that everyone feels heard, fostering trust and confidence in the judicial system. With over 27 years of legal experience across more than 30 Ohio Common Pleas Courts, multiple federal courts, and various state courts, I have witnessed firsthand the value of a judge who listens and understands that, to each litigant or defendant, their case is the most important one that day.
This extensive experience has been invaluable as I have presided over several felony trials and sentenced over 200 defendants charged with felonies in the past year and a half. My legal background spans a broad range of civil matters, including personal injury, construction, commercial litigation, contract disputes, landlord/tenant issues, intellectual property, insurance disputes, toxic torts, product liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice, in addition to my criminal law experience.
In the Lake County community, I have served not only on the Kirtland City Council, where my peers elected me as President, but also on various non-profit boards, as listed on this site. My commitment to public service and legal expertise positions me to ensure that every voice is heard and every case is treated with the respect it deserves.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersI believe that a good judge must first be a good listener. It is essential to listen to the lawyers who present their cases because they know their clients and issues intimately. By listening, judges ensure that everyone feels heard, fostering trust and confidence in the judicial system. With over 27 years of legal experience across more than 30 Ohio Common Pleas Courts, multiple federal courts, and various state courts, I have witnessed firsthand the value of a judge who listens and understands that, to each litigant or defendant, their case is the most important one that day.
This extensive experience has been invaluable as I have presided over several felony trials and sentenced over 200 defendants charged with felonies in the past year and a half. My legal background spans a broad range of civil matters, including personal injury, construction, commercial litigation, contract disputes, landlord/tenant issues, intellectual property, insurance disputes, toxic torts, product liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice, in addition to my criminal law experience.
In the Lake County community, I have served not only on the Kirtland City Council, where my peers elected me as President, but also on various non-profit boards, as listed on this site. My commitment to public service and legal expertise positions me to ensure that every voice is heard and every case is treated with the respect it deserves.
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have lived in Lake County for nearly my entire life, with deep roots and strong family ties to the community. Serving the people of Lake County in such an important role is a privilege I hold dearly, and I work diligently every day to ensure that I am doing my very best to serve our community. I believe my temperament and approach are well-suited to the responsibilities of the court, particularly in criminal cases. I am committed to exploring every available opportunity through community resources to rehabilitate those struggling with mental health and addiction, helping them to stop committing crimes and become productive members of society.
However, when a defendant cannot be rehabilitated despite the efforts of the Court, the probation department, and community resources, I take my duty to protect the public seriously by issuing sentences that are appropriate to the criminal conduct. My extensive experience in civil cases is also a significant asset to the Court, having briefed and argued hundreds of motions, tried cases, and participated in dozens of mediations throughout my career. These skills have been invaluable in assisting litigants with resolving their cases through settlement conferences, motion practice, and trial.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersI have lived in Lake County for nearly my entire life, with deep roots and strong family ties to the community. Serving the people of Lake County in such an important role is a privilege I hold dearly, and I work diligently every day to ensure that I am doing my very best to serve our community. I believe my temperament and approach are well-suited to the responsibilities of the court, particularly in criminal cases. I am committed to exploring every available opportunity through community resources to rehabilitate those struggling with mental health and addiction, helping them to stop committing crimes and become productive members of society.
However, when a defendant cannot be rehabilitated despite the efforts of the Court, the probation department, and community resources, I take my duty to protect the public seriously by issuing sentences that are appropriate to the criminal conduct. My extensive experience in civil cases is also a significant asset to the Court, having briefed and argued hundreds of motions, tried cases, and participated in dozens of mediations throughout my career. These skills have been invaluable in assisting litigants with resolving their cases through settlement conferences, motion practice, and trial.