Three Generations of Excellence 86 Years of Seeking Justice

 

John H. Rion

Criminal Defense/Family Law

John H. Rion is board certified in the field of criminal law and he has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America® since 1983. He is the former president of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, has served for two terms as Chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association, and has tried more than 300 felony jury trials, including capital cases.

He is admitted to the Ohio State Bar, US District Court for Southern District of Ohio, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

Honors

  • Listed in Best Lawyers of America® under Criminal Law 1981 – Present
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in Ohio® 2000 – Present
  • Listed in Ohio Super Lawyers® 2000 – Present
  • Board Certified and re-certified in field of Criminal Law by the National Board of Legal
  • Specialty Certification (One of few in the country), 1988 – Present
  • Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, 2005 – Present
  • Appointed to Governor’s Task Force on Prison and Jail Crowding, 1989
  • Chairman, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1990
  • President, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1989
  • Vice-President, Montgomery County Trial Lawyers Association, 1989-1990
  • Chairman, Criminal Justice Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association, 1989-1991
  • Board of Trustees of Montgomery County Trial Lawyers, 1990- Present
  • Listed in The National Directory of Criminal Lawyers
  • Acting Judge – Springfield Municipal – 2010
  • Board of Governors, The Ohio State University, College of Humanities-HUMAS – 1993-1996
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Rated
  • Appeared on the Phil Donahue Show 1996
  • Appeared on Court T.V., 1997 – 2009
  • Appeared on Dateline NBC, 1999 and 2000
  • Appeared on American Justice, 2005
  • Appeared on 48 Hours, 2005
  • Appeared as a T.V. Commentator on the acclaimed PBS Fred Friendly Series
  • Member of Committee Setting Standards for Board Certification for the Ohio State Bar
  • Association by appointment of the President, 1999
  • Vice President, American Board of Criminal Lawyers, 2009 – 2013;
  • Treasurer, American Board of Criminal Lawyers, 2014 – 2015
  • Listed in The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers 2010-Present
  • Recipient of the 2015 Martin Luther King Presidential Award from Southern Christian Leadership Conference
  • Recipient of Commendation Certificate from The State of Ohio, House of Representatives 2016
  • President, American Board of Criminal Lawyers, 2017

Current Professional Memberships

  • Dayton Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, California Defense Lawyer’s Association,
  • Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (life member), Montgomery County Trial Lawyers
  • Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (life member), American Board of
  • Criminal Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

Bars Admitted

  • Ohio State Bar
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court

Practiced by Permission – Pro Hac Vice

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • British Columbia
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Lectures

Over 40 lectures to lawyers for the:

  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Ohio Public Defenders
  • Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Ohio Judicial Conference at Akron, Athens, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, and Dayton

Writings

  • Superintendence Rule for Ohio Regarding Qualifications Required for Attorneys in Death Penalty Cases
  • Published numerous articles in Dayton Bar Briefs
  • Quarterly Column in Vindicator, publication of the Ohio Association of Criminal Lawyers – published in excess of 30 articles

Degrees Earned

  • Bachelor’s Degree, The Ohio State University 1965 – Philosophy Major
  • Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Toledo 1969

Career History

  • Rion, Rion & Rion, L.P.A., Inc., was founded by Paul W. Rion in 1938, John H. Rion’s Father, and Jon Paul Rion’s Grandfather. The Firm has continued to serve clients for over 80 years, through three generations.
  • Partner, Rion, Rion & Rion Co., L.P.A. 1969-1987
  • President, John H. Rion & Associates 1988 – 1998
    • 95% Criminal Law
  • Rion, Rion and Rion, L.P.A., Inc. 1998-present
  • Over 300 career Felony Jury Trials
  • Examined thousands of witnesses in over 750 serious motions to suppress/dismiss

Career-Related Activities

  • Co-Chairman and Co-Author of Rule 20 Committee of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio prescribing qualifications for attorneys in Death Penalty cases.
  • Examiner for National Board of Trial Advocacy

Contact Rion, Rion & Rion at (937) 223-9133 to learn more.

Recent Case Results
Helping Our Clients Achieve the Best Possible Outcome

  • Not Guilty Aggravated Murder

    In July of 2015, the Defendant was charged with the murder of a man in Springfield. After hiring our office, we worked hard with the Defendant and his family to prepare the best defense for our client. The trial lasted two days and resulted in a Not Guilty verdict on all charges by the Jury.

  • Conviction Vacated Appeal | State vs. K.M. (2nd District Court of Appeals)

    Client was charged, and later found guilty of, tampering with evidence kept by a government entity (F3). We appealed the case on the grounds that the trial court erred in not granting the client’s motion to dismiss stating that the statute of limitations had expired. In late 2018, the appellate court reversed the client’s judgement and vacated the client’s conviction.

  • Dismissed Civil Stalking Protection Order | Against our client

    Our client received paperwork that a Civil Stalking Protection Order was placed against our client. We challenged the protection order, asking for a directed verdict. The Judge agreed, stating that there was no threats of physical harm to the alleged victim and the mental distress evidence was not sufficient.

  • Case Dismissed OVI

    The Defendant was on the way back from a friend’s house when she was pulled over in her car for crossing over the marked lines. She was charged with an OVI. While waiting for her chance before the jury, the Defendant was granted driving privileges with the help of our office. At the Suppression Hearing, the OVI case was dismissed and the Defendant only had to pay court costs.

  • Acquitted Robbery (Physical Harm) F2 | State vs. J.M.

    Client was accused of robbing a local Rite Aid and charged with robbery while using/threatening to use physical harm. After 2 days of trial and 4 ½ hours of deliberation, a jury returned a not guilty verdict.

  • Not Guilty | Reduced Charge Sex Crime Charges

    The Defendant was charged with one count of attempted rape and one count of abduction. After multiple hearings with the prosecution and Judge, the case went to the Jury. When the trial concluded after two days, the Jury found the Defendant Not Guilty of attempted rape and Guilty of a lesser charge of unlawful restraint. He only had to serve 60 days which his jail time credit counted for.

  • Not Guilty Unlawful Restraint M3 | State vs. BV

    Client was accused of unlawful restraint while in her position in the health care field. Our client maintained her innocence throughout the case. After 2 days of trial, the jury returned a not guilty verdict.

Why Rion, Rion & Rion?

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation Today

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  1. 86 Years of Experience
  2. More than 500 Jury Trials Handled
  3. Free Initial Case Evaluation
  4. Available 24/7, 365 Days a Year
  5. 10.0 AVVO Rating
  6. President of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers