Terrence Robert Rudes

Terrence Robert Rudes

also known as Terrence Rudes, Terry Rudes

5.0
Rating: 8.8

Licensed for 48 years

DUI and DWI Lawyer at Port Clinton, OH
Practice Areas: DUI & DWI, Criminal Defense

216 Adams Street, Port Clinton, OH

About Terrence

Biography

Practice Areas

2

Practice Areas

DUI and DWI 95%

Successfully representing people charged with DUI/OVI at trial and on appeals and other traffic offenses

40 years | 3,500 cases

95%
Criminal Defense 5%

Successfully representing those charged with crimes from Aggravated Murder, drug offenses, to Disorderly Conduct

40 years | 2,500 cases

5%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Ohio for 48 years

State: Ohio

Acquired: 1977

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Rudes Law Office

216 Adams Street, Port Clinton, OH, 43452

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Terrence Robert Rudes's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

13 Client Reviews

5 star (13)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by B | January 12, 2026 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Highly competent, honest and great to have on your side.

Mr. Rudes represented me on a serious OVI charge. He is extremely knowledgeable of all the facets of the criminal system including laws, precedences, detection methods and interpretations. What I appreciated the most was his candid disposition and care he displayed in my case. Personally, I could ...not ask for a better lawyer to have on my side. Results exceeded my expectations and I intend on keeping my promise to never need his services again. Thank you Terry and I wish you the best!

Posted by Jeanine | August 5, 2025 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent Attorney highly recommend

Mr. Rudes is a very competent lawyer who represented me in a serious DUI/OVI charge. He is very thorough. His support and guidance got me through the most serious event I've ever experenced. I was in serious trouble. I was terrified for what was coming. He managed to get lesser charges and saved ...me alot of grief. He guided me down a wonderful path to a better future. Kind and humble. He came to my home for the initial consultation which I was so very greatful. I highly recommend him in any DUI/OVI case. His knowledge and experience is impeccable. I am forever blessed and greatful to have found him.

Posted by Ray | November 27, 2023 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent Representation

I was charged with OVI. After vetting several attorneys, I chose Mr. Rudes to represent me. Mr. Rudes is very professional and straight forward. He explained to me what the possible consequences of the OVI charge would be and what my options were. Mr. Rudes said "tell me what you want the outcome to ...be and that is what we will shoot for. Because I could not drive, Mr. Rudes came to my home to discuss my case. He gave me a questionnaire to fill out which was very thorough. Mr. Rudes asked me a lot of questions about my background, my family and the circumstances leading to my OVI charge. On the day of the pre-trial, Mr. Rudes presented my options after he had spent a lot of time researching my case and then talking with the prosecuting attorney. I was surprised by the offer presented to me on the pre-trial day which was dismissal if the one-year ALS (adminstrative license suspension as I refused the BAC text), reduction of OVI to reckless operation, fine and 3-day alcohol intervention program. Mr. Rudes wanted me to take my case to trial as he believed the officer who charged me with OVI had no reason to pull me over and the circumstances surrounding my OVI were questionable at best. I decided to take the plea deal and get everything over with the day of the pre-trial. I walked out of the courtroom with my life back; I was able to drive again! Had me personal circumstances been different, I would have followed Mr. Rudes advice and taken my case to trial. In the end, Mr. Rudes did exactly what he said he would do. Mr. Rudes worked hard for me, not as just another client, but on a personal level. I highly recommend Mr. Rudes to anyone facing a OVI such as I was. Not only was my outcome good, I feel I have gained a new friend.

Posted by Tammie | March 15, 2023 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Best Attorney!!

Attorney Rudes represented me for an incident in which I refused to take the breathalyzer. Attorney Rudes helped me to plea to Reckless Op 2nd offense. He helped me establish restricted driving privileges for 6 months and I attended the DIP program which was also court ordered. Upon the end of my... 6 month license suspension I realized there was still an ALS against my drivers license that required a $475 payment. Both Attorney Rudes and I did not feel that was correct . Attorney Rudes took this matter before the Judge and he agreed with Attorney Rudes despite the prosecutor’s objections. I know have my driving privileges back and I can’t thank Attorney Rudes enough!

Posted by Sebina | October 5, 2021 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

A blessing!

As an owner/operator of my business as a truckdriver, I found myself in a situation that eventually put me near bankruptcy and a record on my license. I was out of work for many months and was going to give up my fight when I met Terrence. I met him after hearing him speak and all is history from the...re. I would NOT be where I am today, if it weren't for Terrence! I can honestly say that he went well above and beyond any expectations! (At the point of our meeting, I was ready to give up). The message I received from my previous lawyer was, the case is closed and the results were what they were. Terrence saw the mistakes when I showed him my ruling and the records I had from the previous lawyer, and his words were "I'm not guaranteeing anything, but I will look into it and get back with you." That set the road to my returning to my truck and my record being fixed when I thought my business and my trucking days were over and done. Terrence was truly a blessing, when we met and I would recommend him and his talent to anyone! As a lawyer, he has an empathetic side, which my previous lawyer did not. His ability to work with you on a personal level is unmatched from other lawyers. Terrence is not a lawyer, he is an angel! I can go on and on, but there really aren't enough words to express my gratitude and Terrence will never know the extent of how he changed my life and saved my business! He is a wonderful man, and an EXCELLENT lawyer! To those who may think this is too good to be true, its the truth! I will be forever thankful that our paths met. If you do not have Terrence as your lawyer, you have the wrong lawyer! Thank you Terrence!

See All Client Reviews

Terrence Robert Rudes's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Terrence
T. Douglas Clifford headshot
T. Clifford

DUI and DWI lawyer | Jul 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I've known Terry for years and we often travel to similar courts. Terry is a very thorough attorney and great practitioner in OVI law. He presents at numerous seminars teaching other Lawyers about OVI law. Anytime a potential client tells me they are represented by him I say with confidence that they are in "good hands.""

Brian Heath Crockett headshot
Brian Crockett

DUI and DWI lawyer | Dec 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Rudes knows the law and how to make it work for his clients. I endorse this lawyer."

Neil Scott Rubin headshot
Neil Rubin

DUI and DWI lawyer | May 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Rudes is an exemplary DUI/DWI practitioner. If you need help and live in his geographical practice area as well as other parts of Ohio, you could not go wrong retaining him to defend you and protect your rights in the judicial system."

Kenneth Richard Bailey headshot
Kenneth Bailey

DUI and DWI lawyer | May 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I gladly endorse Terry Rudes. He is a leader in the Ohio DUI / DWI community. He represents his cilents very well, as evidenced by many wins at the trial court and many wins in the courts of appeals. He willingly helps and instructs other lawyers who are in need, and he is in constant pursuit of new arguments, new caselaw, and new science. He is an innovator, and he is an excellent lawyer."

Christopher Lee Beck headshot
Christopher Beck

DUI and DWI lawyer | Aug 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Rudes is a fellow member of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers(OACDL). He is an excellent OVI/DUI attorney and often contributes to the OACDL list serve and annual DUI seminar in Ohio. I have consulted Mr. Rudes and taken his advise in many different OVI/DUI cases. I strongly endorse Mr. Rudes."

Joseph T Ostrowski headshot
Joseph Ostrowski

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Rudes exemplifies the very best attributes of an active attorney and displays a level of professionalism, confidence and skill we should all aspire to. Honesty, dedication and a love of the law, which means. giving back to others who lack our understanding of the law and a benefit from our inherent desire to provide solutions to problems. The thousands years of combined legal experience of professionals activity participating in this forum represent some of the very best of our profession, which is after all, at its base is desire to help those in need. This Attorney’s experience and knowledge, I believe, demonstrates that there is a desire to provide accurate advice and obtain appropriate results for clients. Most importantly, this Attorney is willing to help complete strangers (as is the case in this forum) with their legal problems for which we collectively provide useful information, thereby demystifying the legal process as much as possible. I would recommend this"

Jason Allan Sarver headshot
Jason Sarver

DUI and DWI lawyer | Dec 28

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Robert Edward Calesaric headshot
Robert Calesaric

DUI and DWI lawyer | Dec 26

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. There is no other that I would send my clients too if they were in trouble up North. Terry is always on the cutting edge of DUI law!"

Larry J. Denny headshot
Larry Denny

DUI and DWI lawyer | Aug 31

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have sent clients to Terry in the past and each one was handled with success and each client raved about Terry. I have also been on seminar panels with him and found that he knew more than all the rest on the panel. He is a fighter and is well qualified to handle any OVI issue with success. I highly recommend him and endorse his work."

View All Endorsements
Robert James Beck Jr. headshot
Robert Beck

Criminal defense lawyer

Darryl Wayne Genis headshot
Darryl Genis

DUI and DWI lawyer

Robert Edward Calesaric headshot
Robert Calesaric

DUI and DWI lawyer

Larry J. Denny headshot
Larry Denny

DUI and DWI lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.8 (Excellent)

Associations

1982 - Present

National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

1979 - Present

Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

1979 - Present

Ohio Bar Association

Sample of Legal Cases

State v. Anderson, 2006-Ohio-1568

DUI Conviction reversed

State v. Durnwald, (2005) 163 Ohio App.3d 361

DUI Conviction reversed

Eaken v. Hirt, 2005-Ohio-3046

successful judgment

State v. Benton (2000), 136 Ohio App.3d 801

DUI Conviction reversed

State v. Galbreath, 2000-Ohio-1728

Trial court reversed - defedant discharged

Dean v. Nugent Canal Yacht Club, Inc., 66 Ohio App.3d 471

trail court reversed

See More Legal Cases

Education

N/A

University of Toledo

law

Speaking Engagements

2011

Traffic Law Update

Understanding the Intoxilyzer 8000 (OH-5)

2011

Traffic Law Update

Beating the Intoxilyzer 8000

2011

Advanced DUI Seminar

Things You Absolutely Must Know to handle DUI cases

2010

DUI Law Update

Operation and Errors of the Intoxilyzer 8000

2010

Advanced DUI Seminar

Winning on Appeal

2009

DUI Seminar Update

Defending Destroyed Video Cases

2008

DUI Seminar

Using GPS Data in the Defense

2007

Traffic Law Update

Beating the Administrative License Suspension

2007

Advanced DUI Seminar

Confrontation Under Crawford

2006

Traffic Law Update

Field Sobriety Testing

2006

Advanced DUI Seminar

Evidentiary Issues in Drugged Driving Cases

2006

Advanced DUI Seminar

Perfecting an Appeal to Win

2003

Traffic Law Update

Vehicular Homicide Defense

2003

Advanced DUI Seminar

How to Win a DUI Trial

2002

Advanced DUI Seminar

Representation in DUI Cases

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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