Biography
For more than 35 years, Retanio Aj Rucker has represented clients in many areas of law: complex civil litigation, criminal, domestic relations, juvenile, administrative, civil rights, contract, employment, environment, labor relations and probate.
Most recently Attorney Rucker has been a magistrate, an assistant prosecuting attorney, and an acting judge. His fifteen years in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, has required he render decisions and opinions based on the evidence, facts, law and or witness testimony.
At Juvenile Court, Attorney Rucker built relationships between attorneys, clients, court personnel and others associated with the case, and facilitated conflict resolution and settlement between parties. Areas of experience include abuse, neglect and dependency matters, attorney fee recovery cases, Bridges matters, delinquency matters, private custody cases, support matters, and traffic cases.
Education
- Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
- J.D. - 1987
- Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio
- B.A. - 1981
Bar Admission
- Ohio, 1988
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1992
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1991
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1988
Published Works
- The Fierce Urgency of Now, Real Men Magazine, February, 2023
- The Need for People of Color to Vote, The Euclid Observer, February, 2022
- The Need for More Diversity on the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Bench, The Euclid Observer, November, 2021
- RetanioGOTV: The Importance of Voting, Chasing Justice, April 10th, 2018
Classes & Seminars
- The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Life Member (Various Offices Held), April 1984 - Present
- The City of Cleveland, Ohio Community Diversion Program for First Time Juvenile Offenders Volunteer Magistrate, January 2001 - April 2007
- The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter Perry B. Jackson Housing Estates Member Board of Directors/Treasurer, April 2007 - Present
- Angels Alumni Organization Member Board of Trustees, April 2013 - Present
- Murtis Taylor Human Services Systems Member Board of Directors/Human Resources¬ Legal Committee Chair, September 2016 - Present
- Catholic Charities Diocese of Greater Cleveland Member Board of Directors, February 2021 - Present
- Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative Member Steering Committee, February 2021 - Present
- The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland Member, November 2021 - Present
- The City of Euclid, Ohio Civil Service Commission Commissioner, December 2022 - Present