Login | November 20, 2024
Probate Judge Rusu receives award/voted VP of OAPJ
Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. recently received a Meritorious Service Award for his many efforts at the Ohio Association of Probate Court Judges and was sworn in as vice president of the organization. Both occurred during this year’s annual summer judicial conference held by the OAPJ together with the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges and the Ohio Association of Domestic Relations Judges, which ran from June 5 through 8. Pictured here Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy swears in the new Ohio Association of Probate Judges officeholders. Seen here from the left are OAPJ President Lorain County Probate Judge James Walther, President-Elect Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Tim Grendell, Vice President Judge Robert Rusu and Secretary/Historian Guernsey County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge David Bennett. (Photo courtesy of Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr.).
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 27, 2023
It’s been a momentous summer for longtime Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. who recently took on the role of vice president of the Ohio Association of Probate Judges (OAPJ) and received an award for his years of service at the nonprofit organization.
Both occurred during the annual summer judicial conference held by the OAPJ together with the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges and the Ohio Association of Domestic Relations Judges.
The event took place at Salt Fork Park Lodge & Conference Center and ran from June 5 through 8.
Over 140 probate, juvenile court and domestic relations judges turned out at the conference, attending required continuing legal education seminars, among other things.
At the meeting, Cuyahoga County Probate Judge and outgoing Ohio Association of Probate Judges President Laura Gallagher presented Judge Rusu with a Meritorious Service Award.
“As the outgoing president of the association, I awarded Judge Rusu with a Meritorious Service Award and thanked him personally for his professionalism and willingness to serve in many capacities, including his help in planning our annual executive board retreats,” said Judge Gallagher.
“I was honored to be recognized by Judge Gallagher for my service to the association,” said Judge Rusu. “It’s nice when your peers acknowledge the extra work that you do on top of your normal judicial duties.”
Judge Gallagher said the award was a culmination of Judge Rusu’s many efforts at the association over the years.
Judge Rusu has been on the executive board since 2015. For the past two years, he’s been the association’s treasurer.
“As treasurer Judge Rusu was responsible for collecting association and conference fees and paying all association obligations, which include conference expenses, charitable contributions and expense reimbursements for association-related travel,” said Judge Gallagher. “Judge Rusu presented his treasurer’s report at all board meetings and his work was verified and approved by our internal audit process at the June conference.”
In addition to receiving the award at the conference, Judge Rusu was elected to a two-year term as vice president.
During the banquet, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy administered the oath of office for Judge Rusu and the other incoming OAPJ officeholders.
“I am excited to serve as vice president of the association,” said Judge Rusu. “In my new role, I will be bringing matters that impact the probate courts in the state and our constituents to the forefront and making sure the citizens that I represent are going to be protected and represented in these issues.
“Our association represents the probate judges and is highly involved with new legislation pertaining to the probate courts,” said Judge Rusu. “We are also responsible for providing education to our probate court investigators, clerks and fellow judges to make sure they stay up to date on all the changes happening in the probate world.”
A Canfield High School graduate, Judge Rusu obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from Youngstown State University.
After earning his juris doctorate from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1993, he started his career as a probate and estate practitioner, working for attorney Joseph D. Lane, where he focused on estate planning, wills, trusts and estates and real estate issues.
Prior to being appointed to the Mahoning County Probate Court by former Ohio Gov. John Kasich in 2014, Judge Rusu was a partner at the Canfield law firm Lane & Rusu.
Since taking his seat on the bench, Judge Rusu has spent a large part of his time working to protect wards under guardianship.
Judge Rusu’s efforts have earned him a number of accolades, including the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education’s (OAGE) 2018 Practitioner of the Year Award.
That same year, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Retirement Services Inc. also presented him with the Outstanding Senior Advocate Award and Help Network of Northeast Ohio (formerly Help Hotline Crisis Center) honored him with the Dee Elias Award.
A former president of The Mahoning County Bar Association and a former member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Judge Rusu is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference’s Probate Law & Procedure Committee.
Outside of his work on the bench and at legal organizations, Judge Rusu is very active in the community.
He’s served on a number of organizations over the years, including the Alzheimer’s Assistance and Referral Network and the Mahoning Valley Camp Fire Council. He was also president of the Canfield Baseball Club and is a current board member at the Potential Development School for Students with Autism.
“I have always operated under the principle that you always leave something better than the way you found it,” said Judge Rusu. “That is true in my professional life as well as my private life. That is what led me into the legal profession and it is what guides me every day.”