---
title: "John J. Eklund | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-j-eklund"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-02"
---

# John J. Eklund

Eleventh District Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Judge

## Profile

- Court: Eleventh District Court of Appeals
- State: Ohio
- Role: Court of Appeals Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- John J. Eklund is a Republican judge of the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals, appointed in 2021 and re‐elected in 2024, with a background as a former Ohio state senator and longtime antitrust litigation attorney
- Recognized in Best Lawyers in America for antitrust law and litigation, and named an Ohio “Super Lawyer” in those fields Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office

### Education

- Washington and Lee University School of Law
- bachelor's degree — Union College

### Additional information

- Sworn in July 1, 2021, and won a full term in the November 5, 2024 general election.
- Appointed by Governor Mike DeWine on June 9, 2021 to fill a vacancy on the 11th District Court of Appeals, succeeding Matt Lynch.
- From 2011 to 2020, Eklund held the role of Ohio State Senator for the 18th District (Portage County and most of Lake and Geauga Counties).
- His work focused on business litigation, civil and criminal antitrust cases, and counseling.
- Before joining the court, Eklund spent nearly 42 years in private practice at Cleveland’s Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, where he led the firm’s antitrust and trade regulation practice group.
- He chaired the Senate Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Criminal Justice Committees, and served on multiple state boards, including the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office.
- He was awarded the Ohio State Bar Association’s “Outstanding Lawyer‐Legislator” and other honors Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing exhibits

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance tells courts to include instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses when remote-hearing information is sent to participants.

Evidence excerpt: Instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing ground rules

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance recommends advance ground rules for documents, exhibits, screen sharing, and pre-marking exhibits for remote hearings.

Evidence excerpt: Documents: Share any documents/exhibits that will be reviewed in advance. Use the share screen function while documents are being discussed during the hearing. Request that the documents are pre-marked for exhibit purposes.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote recording

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance states that litigants, attorneys, and the public should be instructed not to record the hearing.

Evidence excerpt: The court should instruct the litigants, attorneys, and the public to not record the hearing.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Official roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Ohio Judicial Conference Directory official judicial roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
- [Wikidata: John J. Eklund](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6231517)

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