For more than 150 years, the Cincinnati Bar Association has played a vital role in maintaining public trust in the American legal system within our community. As strongly as ever, the CBA remains committed to upholding our mission to promote professional excellence, foster justice, serve our members, and educate the public.

Reflecting that mission, we are proud to provide education and resources that support an independent judiciary, the legal profession, and the rule of law. These efforts promote equal access to the legal system and the proper functioning of our courts.

The core principles underlying our legal system derive from the United States Constitution. They include our federalist system that divides responsibility between the states and the national government, and national responsibility among three co-equal branches of government. The legislative, executive, and judicial branches each have constitutional powers that provide checks and balances against the powers of the others, while respecting the authority of the other branches. 

Within this system, the judiciary must be respected as the impartial arbiter of the law, charged with resolving disputes lawfully, peacefully, and finally. Clients and lawyers must have the freedom to choose each other, and the role of the lawyer must be protected to represent their clients ethically and zealously no matter the issue or opponent. 

Even as our constitutional principles have been refined over time, they have been accepted as the bedrock of our system of government for more than 200 years. We stand firm in our duty to defend the Constitution, the courts, lawyers, and the rule of law for all members of our community.  

- Cincinnati Bar Association Board of Trustees