Requesting an Opinion

Before Requesting an Opinion

Before requesting an opinion, you may want to look through our previously issued opinions to see whether we have already answered a similar question for someone else. You can browse the Commission’s archives of Formal Advisory Opinions and Informal Advisory Opinions or search both Formal and Informal Advisory Opinions below.

The archives are searchable by opinion number or keyword. For example, searching for family will return all Formal and Informal Advisory Opinions containing the word family.

Requesting an opinion for yourself

Advisory opinion requests must be made in writing and must have an original signature. You can submit your request via US Mail to:

Paul M. Nick, Executive Director
Ohio Ethics Commission
30 West Spring Street, L-3
Columbus, Ohio 43215

You may submit a copy of your signed request as a scanned PDF attachment via E-mail to paul.nick@ethics.ohio.gov. However, you must also mail your original request, with your original signature, to the Commission. Once the Commission has received your original letter in the mail, the Commission can begin working on your request.

Make sure you provide a mailing address, so the staff can mail the signed opinion in response. Please include a telephone number and e-mail address in case the staff has follow-up questions.

The Commission responds to most requests within 45 days after they are received in our office.

In compliance with open government laws, please note that a letter requesting an advisory opinion and any response issued are public records. The documents will be available for public inspection under the public records law. Additionally, a copy of the response may be provided to legal counsel for any public agencies involved in the matter.

Requesting an opinion for someone else

The Commission cannot provide advisory opinions in response to questions about someone other than the requester. If you have a question about the possible actions of another person, you can request general information from the Commission.

Note: An attorney or other representative can request an opinion for a client. However, the request must clearly state that the person is aware of and has asked the representative to submit the question.

Requesting an opinion about an action already taken

The Commission cannot provide advisory opinions in response to questions about actions that have already been taken. If you have a question about an action that has already been taken, you can request general information from the Commission.