Governor DeWine Appoints Ruple to Lake County Court of Common Pleas

April 04, 2023


(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced the appointment of Jeffrey W. Ruple to the Lake County Court of Common Pleas-General Division.


Ruple, of Kirtland, will assume office on April 24, 2023, and will be taking the seat formerly held by Judge
Eugene Lucci, who was elected to the Eleventh District Court of Appeals.


Ruple will need to run for election in November 2024 to retain the seat. Ruple is admitted to the practice of law
in the state of Ohio and the commonwealth of Kentucky. He is admitted to the Federal District Courts for the
Northern District of Ohio, the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern District of Kentucky, and the Eastern
District of Michigan as well as the US Court of Appeals for the 6 Circuit. Ruple has also been granted pro hac
vice admission to courts in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan.


Ruple is a well-known and well-respected civil litigator who has represented some of the nation’s largest and
best-known companies as well as individuals and small business in a variety of matters.


In 2014 Ruple was a founding partner of Deacon, Cardenas, Ruple, LLC which is today known as Cardenas,
Ruple & Kurt, LLC. A civil litigation firm.


Prior to founding Cardenas, Ruple & Kurt, Ruple was a partner with Buckley King LPA in Cleveland.
Ruple began his legal career in 1997, as an associate attorney for Falke & Dunphe, LLC. in Dayton, Ohio. He has also been as an associate at Murphy & Lyons, P.S.C., in Covington, Kentucky and at Baughman & Associates Co., L.P.A in Cleveland.


He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton, School of Law. Prior to earning his law degree,
he graduated from Denison University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and history. As an undergraduate
he owned and operated his own seasonal asphalt sealcoating business.


Amongst other legal accomplishments, Ruple was part of the inaugural committee of the Ohio State Bar
Association which wrote the exam for those attorneys wishing to be certified as a specialist in insurance coverage law.


In his community, Ruple serves as a board member of Marilyn’s Voice and was president of Kirtland City
Council. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, Kentucky Bar Association, and Lake County Bar
Association.