About Judge Ruple

Prior to his appointment to the Lake County Common Pleas Bench, Judge Ruple enjoyed a highly successful and diverse legal career, marked by a wealth of experience, work ethic and a strong commitment to his clients. Judge Ruple has over 26 years of legal experience in various legal matters. In his legal career he assisted clients that ranged from the indigent to representing several Fortune 500 Companies. 

In handling this wide variety of clients and legal issues, Judge Ruple not only gained extensive experience in multiple areas of the law, but also gained insight, knowledge and an appreciation of civil and criminal litigants concerns when they enter the courtroom, thereby providing greater insight into Judge Ruple’s current role as a Jurist. Judge Ruple has a true passion for the Law and holds judicial philosophy you can trust. 

He believes it is critical to be a good listener in deciding any issue and to ensure that every litigant, whether civil or criminal has their voice heard in the Court of law. He conducts himself directly and candidly on the bench as he did in his law practice. 

Among his other legal accomplishments, Judge Ruple was a member of the Ohio State Bar Association‘s committee, which created the exam for lawyers seeking certification as specialists in insurance coverage law.  In 2017, he also was appointed by Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat Dewine to serve on the Commission on the Thomas J. Moyer Judicial Center, which advises  the Ohio Supreme Court on the preservation of the artistic, architectural and historic integrity and public use of the Moyer Judicial Center, which is home of the Ohio Supreme Court.  He was re-appointed to this Commission by now Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy in 2019 until his term ended in 2022.  

Judge Ruple, in addition to practicing law in Ohio, is admitted in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Nothern District of Ohio, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and was admitted pro hac vice in several other state courts during his long legal career. 

Jeff’s dedication to education and the law is evident through his role as an adjunct faculty member at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he taught “Introduction to American Law.

Beyond his legal career, Jeff takes pride in his active involvement in the community. He has served on the boards of several organizations, including Learning About Business (LAB), Kirtland Kiwanis, Red Oak Camp, the Willoughby-Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce, the Fine Arts Association, and Marilyn’s Voice. 

In 2019, he was elected as a councilman in the City of Kirtland, and chosen by his peers to serve as Council President for 2022 and 2023. 

At home, Judge Ruple loves to spend time with his beautiful daughters Ali and Marissa and two dogs, Dash and T-Bone.