Cuyahoga County Bar Association (Ohio)

Founded in 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Cuyahoga Law Association. Its purposes included educational and social activities for local attorneys, and protection of civil rights. It is one of the largest bar associations in Ohio.

The Cuyahoga County Bar Association was founded in 1927 by 64 Cleveland, Ohio attorneys who, while dissatisfied with the accomplishments of the Cleveland Bar Association, felt that a newly organized non-sectarian, non-political bar association could work with its older counterpart (The Cleveland Bar Association) in a concerted effort to educate attorneys practically and ethically while creating a social atmosphere attractive to all members of the profession. The stated purpose of the association, originally christened as the Cuyahoga Law Association, was to form a progressive lawyers' association aimed at protecting the rights of the public in any instance, whether in the courts, the legislature, or in city government matters. Over the years the Cuyahoga County Bar Association has fulfilled these responsibilities on numerous occasions. For example, in 1949 the organization demanded the removal of a judge who failed to conduct himself with integrity in a pre-trial procedure. That same year the Association also proved instrumental in exposing and discrediting a number of Cleveland lawyers who had proved themselves both negligent and unethical in handling adoption and divorce cases.

Throughout its history, the Cuyahoga County Bar Association has worked to promote friendly relations between members of the bar and has advanced the legal profession through united action. Since 1927 the Bar has annually endorsed candidates running for judicial office. The Cuyahoga County Bar Association, one of the largest bar associations in Ohio, has more than 2,000 members.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cuyahoga County Bar Association