Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof is the recipient of the Ohio State Bar Association’s (OSBA) 2018 Lawyer-Legislator Distinguished Service Award.
The Lawyer-Legislator Award was established in 2014 to recognize Ohio lawyers who also provide exceptional service as Ohio legislators. OSBA CEO and Executive Director Mary Augsburger presented Obhof with the honor at the Association’s annual Council of Delegates meeting on Friday, April 27.
“Senator Obhof truly embodies why it is a benefit to our state to have lawyers serving in the General Assembly,” Augsburger said. “In fact, at a time when our politics seem more divided than ever, President Obhof has earned a reputation for working across the aisle on issues that matter most and, on behalf of the OSBA, we are grateful for it.”
Senator Obhof serves as President of the Ohio Senate for the 132nd General Assembly and proudly represents the people of the 22nd Senate District which includes Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties as well as portions of Holmes County. He is focused on improving Ohio’s economy and, as a member of the Senate, has sponsored legislation covering a wide range of issues including education, civil and criminal law, election administration and taxation.
The Senator has worked closely with OSBA leadership and the Association’s Corporation Law Committee on needed corporate law reforms, including updates to statutes concerning LLCs. He has been a go-to legislator for the OSBA, willing to sponsor legislation and support Association priorities, including increased funding for Legal Aid and indigent defense.
Prior to his election as President of the Senate, Obhof served as President Pro Tempore and as Majority Whip. He currently chairs the Rules and Reference Committee which determines which bills, resolutions and appointments are considered by the full Senate. He also chairs the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee and the Legislative Service Commission.
“It’s an honor to receive this award from the Ohio State Bar Association,” Obhof said. “I appreciate the support and resources the OSBA provides to the legislature, and while the issues we work on together may not always catch headlines, they matter each and every day to Ohioans who find themselves in a courtroom or to those doing business in Ohio.”
Senator Obhof graduated with degrees in economics, history and political science from The Ohio State University. He earned his law degree from Yale Law School and resides in Medina with his wife Nicole and three daughters.