COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) inducted 40 attorneys into the Fellows program at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center on June 6.
Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and OSBF President Andrew C. Storar presided over the ceremony and reception.
The OSBF is the philanthropic arm of the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) and promotes the pursuit of justice and the public understanding of the rule of law. By extending membership to those lawyers, magistrates and judges who are committed to these ideals, OSBF enlists their talents to further its mission.
A new class of civic-minded lawyers are inducted annually and these Fellows volunteer their time to organizations across the state that profoundly impact our communities.
Interested lawyers must be nominated by a peer or self-nominate themselves for the program. Each candidate is reviewed by a committee before committing their time to outreach programs and pledging financial support to fuel the OSBF’s statewide grantmaking program.
OSBF President Storar noted in his address to the new class that the Foundation granted more than $768,000 in 2016 to 22 law-related organizations and donated more than 356 hours of their time. He challenged this class to “not only match their kindness and generosity, but to exceed it.”
J. Jeffrey Heck, of Mansfield, practices civil litigation in both state and federal courts as Principal at The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. Heck is an alumnus of The Ohio State University and received his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law and has served several terms as the Secretary of the Richland County Bar Association, and as the Litigation Chair of its Certified Grievance Committee.
Heck’s civic commitments include his membership on the Lexington Local Schools Board of Education and the University Club Educational Foundation. His professional organizations include the Ohio State Bar Association and the Ohio Association for Justice.
John K. Rinehardt, of Mansfield, is a personal injury lawyer at Rinehardt Law Firm and is National Board of Trial Advocacy certified. He is actively involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Richland County Humane Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters and many more.
His professional affiliations include the Richland County Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio and American Associations for Justice and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
