Section 3 - Continuing Legal Education Requirements for Judges(A)Total Credit Hours. Each full-time judge, part-time judge, and retired judge shall complete a minimum of forty credit hours of continuing legal education for each two-year period on subjects devoted to the law and judicial administration.(B)Judicial College Credit Hours. As part of the minimum forty credit hours of continuing legal education required by division (A) of this section, each full-time judge, part-time judge, and retired judge shall complete a minimum of ten credit hours of instruction offered by the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College.(C)Judicial Conduct Credit Hours. As part of the minimum ten credit hours of Judicial College instruction required by division (B) of this section, each full-time judge, part-time judge, and retired judge shall complete a minimum of three credit hours of instruction offered by the Judicial College on one or any combination of the following four judicial conduct topics: (1) Judicial ethics, which shall include instruction on one or any combination of the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, the Judicial Creed, and Ohio ethics laws;(2) Professionalism, which shall include instruction on one or both of the following topics: (a) The role of judges in promoting ethics and professionalism within the judiciary;(b) The role of judges in promoting ethics and professionalism among attorneys by facilitating compliance with the requirements of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, "A Lawyer's Creed," "A Lawyer's Aspirational Ideals," and the "Statement Regarding the Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services by Ohio Lawyers" adopted by the Supreme Court;(3) Alcoholism, substance abuse, or mental health issues, which shall include but is not limited to instruction on any of their causes, prevention, detection, and treatment alternatives, as applicable;(4) Access to justice and fairness in the courts and how these issues impact public trust and confidence in the judicial system and the perception of justice in Ohio, which shall include instruction on one or any combination of the following topics: (a) Interacting with self-represented litigants;(b) Encouraging pro bono representation;(c) Accommodating language interpretation;(d) Assuring fairness in matters of race, ethnicity, foreign origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic status, or other relevant topics.(D)Single or Multiple Courses. The Judicial College instruction related to judicial conduct required by division (C) of this section may be obtained in a single program or activity or in separate programs or activities that include one or more of the subjects set forth in that division.(E)New Judges Orientation Program.(1)Requirement. A person who is appointed by the governor or elected to a judgeship shall complete the New Judges Orientation Program developed by the Judicial College for that jurisdiction. Except as provided in division (E)(2)(c) of this section, this provision shall not apply to either of the following: (a) A person reelected to the same judicial position;(b) A person who is excused by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court upon recommendation of an executive committee consisting of the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College because the person recently completed the program.(2)Program parts. The New Judges Orientation Program shall consist of the following four parts: (a) Part I, which shall consist of a general and specific curriculum applicable to the jurisdictions of the attendees. The Judicial College shall conduct Part I each year after the November election but before the commencement of judicial terms in the following year.(b) Part II, which shall consist of a general and specific curriculum applicable to the jurisdiction of the attendees. The Judicial College shall conduct Part II within six months after the conclusion of Part I.(c) Part III, which shall consist of a capital case seminar offered or approved by the Judicial College. A judge of the common pleas court in the general division who is elected or appointed to the bench shall complete the seminar within twenty-four months of assuming the bench. A retired judge shall complete the seminar before accepting assignment to a capital case. All judges in divisions of the common pleas court other than the general division may take the capital case seminar. Judges in divisions of the common pleas court other than the general division who take the capital case seminar shall be eligible to preside over a capital case or participate in a capital case as a member of the three judge panel.(d) Part IV, which shall be the Judicial College Mentor Program. The program shall pair a newly elected or appointed full-time judge or part-time judge with an experienced judgementor within the same subject matter jurisdiction. Each judge required by division (E)(1) of this section to participate in the mentor program shall have quarterly contact with the mentoring judge for a minimum of one year. This program shall not apply to Supreme Court justices.(3)Supreme Court Justices. A person elected or appointed to the Supreme Court shall complete only those portions of Parts I and II that are relevant to appellate or Supreme Court jurisdiction.(4)Later appointments. Any judge appointed after the conclusion of Part I but before the beginning of Part II shall first complete Part II during the same year of the judge's appointment.(5)Change in jurisdiction. A sitting judge who changes jurisdictions shall complete only the portions of Parts I and II that are specifically designed for the new jurisdiction.(6)Tuition and costs. The Judicial College shall not charge tuition for participation in Parts I and II. Pursuant to the "Guidelines for Reimbursement of Travel and Education Expenses for Appellate Judges" adopted by the Supreme Court, the Judicial College shall pay or reimburse the participating judges for the costs of mileage, lodging, and meals while attending Parts I and II.(7)Delayed or excused completion of program parts.(a) For good cause and upon recommendation of the executive committee, the Chief Justice may delay or excuse completion of Part I, Part II, or Part III, or any combination thereof.(b) For good cause, the executive committee may delay or excuse completion of Part IV.(8)Failure to complete program. The Judicial College shall notify the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of a judge who, without good cause, fails to meet the applicable requirements of division (E) of this section.Amended August 2, 2022, effective 9/1/2022; amended July 12, 2022, effective 1/1/2023; amended June 29, 2023, effective 7/1/2023.