Kenneth Jerome Rexford

Education:
Georgetown University Law Center, Doctor of Jurisprudence, Washington, D.C. 1994
Asbury College Bachelor of Arts in History, Business Management Minor, Wilmore, Kentucky 1991

Bar Admissions:
Ohio Supreme Court, 1995
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 1997
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, 1997
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2003
United States Supreme Court, 2009

Appellate Decisions of Note:
Cleveland v. Mathis (1999), 136 Ohio 41; loitering for prostitution ordinance declared unconstitutional for vagueness and free speech reasons. Cleveland v. Maistros (2001), 145 Ohio 346; importuning ordinance declared unconstitutional in highly publicized case as violating equal protection rights of homosexual citizens, reversing recent precedent and leading to ultimate reversal of prior Ohio Supreme Court opinion on the issue. Cleveland v. Smith (2001), 115 Ohio 51; weapons possession ordinance declared unconstitutional for vagueness reasons. Cleveland v. Bacho (8th Dist., December 12, 2002), Case No. 81600, 02-LW-5173; established right of citizen to pro bono representation by a public defender. Cleveland v. Kristoff (8th Dist., March 21, 2002), Case No. 80086, 02-LW-1070; defense of citizen charged with obstructing official business dismissed because of applied unconstitutionality and invasion of right to free speech. Multiple successful State appellate decisions at the Ohio Supreme Court and lower appellate courts reversing and remanding sentencing pursuant to Blakely and Foster.  State v. Ligon (Nov. 24, 2008), 2008-Ohio-6085; sentence of 24 years reduced to 5-7 years because of verdict form errors.  State v. Shurelds (Feb. 17, 2010), 156 Ohio 21; dismissal of weapons charge for due process violations by police.  State v. Mullen (Ja. 10, 2011), 2011-Ohio-37; two felonies reduced to misdemeanors for defective indictment.  Major appellate litigation in area of final appealable orders.

Practice History:
Attorney Rexford started his practice in 1995 after graduating as a Hoya from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.  After a few years in private practice, he relocated to Cleveland, Ohio.  For several years, he dedicated his time to indigent defense and indigent appeals with the Legal Aid Society, accomplishing major changes in the representation of underprivileged individuals, including six major decisions removing unconstitutional laws that had resulted in nearly 1000 arrests per year, effective defense of men discriminated against by a federally funded domestic violence task force, and organization of an effective brief bank for other indigency attorneys.  He received the Claude E. Clark Award for Outstanding 2003, he resumed private practice, eventually relocating to Lima, Ohio, where he currently operates a practice focused on Northwest Ohio.  He has represented clients in about 40 Ohio county courts and in well over half of the twelve Ohio appellate districts.  He has also represented citizens in Indiana, appearing pro hoc vice.  Attorney Rexford has appeared in about 100 actions before the Ohio Supreme Court, has appeared before the highest court in Indiana, and has handled over 100 matters before Ohio appellate district courts.  He appears regularly in federal district court and the Federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on State habeas matters.  Attorney Rexford continues his active interest and work in many areas of legal reform, including sentencing reform, scientific evidence reform, civil rights, and constitutional challenges.  (Click underlined words for articles.)