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Columbiana prosecutor named to state panel
LISBON
“The people we want to become lawyers are the right kind of people,” said John Gamble.
Gamble, 46, chief assistant prosecutor for Columbiana County, has been named to a state panel that screens potential lawyers.
The Ohio Supreme Court recently appointed Atty. John Gamble to the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness representing Ohio’s Seventh Appellate District.
The district encompasses Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson, Mahoning, Monroe and Noble counties. But Gamble will be working statewide. He explained that potential lawyers take their bar examination in their third or fourth year of law school.
The tests are administered through the National Conference of Bar Examiners in Madison, Wis.
“Every potential lawyer has to apply to be admitted to the bar,” he said.
The screening, Gamble added, is to decide whether the candidate will be admitted to the bar.
Information from the test and background checks go back to the state and then to the local bar association.
If there is a problem with a potential lawyer, the board will create a three-member committee to investigate.
Eventually, the full board would vote on whether the candidate would be permitted to sit for the bar examination.
Problems for potential lawyers may include past dishonesty or theft.
“The proceedings are all confidential,” he said.
Gamble and his counterparts don’t get paid for their work.
Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge David Tobin had served as the screening representative to the 7th Appellate District for many years.
Gamble said Judge Tobin tried to make sure the candidates would be good lawyers.