Judge Fanon A. Rucker was appointed to the Hamilton County Municipal Court in April 2007.  Judge Rucker represents District 1 which includes, among other areas, the Cincinnati neighborhoods of Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, the West End, Avondale, North Avondale, Mount Auburn, Mount Adams, Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills.

Judge Rucker began his legal career as an Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Cincinnati, prosecuting misdemeanor offenses in Municipal Court.  In 2000, Judge Rucker joined the law firm of Manley Burke where he concentrated in the areas of Civil Rights, Employment Discrimination and Municipal Law.  In 2002, Judge Rucker joined the law firm of Santen & Hughes where he focused on Employment Litigation, Civil Rights, and Municipal Law.  Judge Rucker served as the Law Director and Prosecutor for the Village of Lincoln Heights and the Prosecutor for the Village of Woodlawn until his appointment to the Bench.  Before being appointed to the Bench, Judge Rucker tried several hundred cases, including over thirty jury trials, both criminal and civil.  During his practice as a trial attorney, Judge Rucker represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants. 

Judge Rucker has appeared on local and national news programs and talk shows discussing his high-profile cases and relevant legal topics.  He has taught CLE courses on jury issues, municipal law and leadership, and has written articles on those same topics.

Judge Rucker has served in leadership positions on numerous nonprofit boards and organizations, including being a Trustee of the Cincinnati Bar Association, President of the Black Lawyers’ Association of Cincinnati, Board Member of the Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Fund (CISE), Board Member of the Young Father’s Program, Board Member of Boys Hope Girl Hope and Board Member of the Children’s Law Center.  Judge Rucker has been a Bar Exam grader since 1998.

Judge Rucker was born and raised in Gary, Indiana.  He received his undergraduate degree from Hampton University in 1993 and his law degree from the University Of Cincinnati College Of Law in 1996.  Judge Rucker’s father, Robert D. Rucker, Jr. is a Justice on the Supreme Court of Indiana.  Judge Rucker’s mother, Jacqueline Pace Rucker is a lawyer and the director of a faith-based social services agency in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Judge Rucker is the proud father of two beautiful children.