# Ohio Gov.Bar R. IV: Rule IV. VIOLATION OF EXAMINATION RULES AND IRREGULARITIES > Ohio · Court rules · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RIV ## Section - **Citation:** Ohio Gov.Bar R. IV - **Heading:** Rule IV. VIOLATION OF EXAMINATION RULES AND IRREGULARITIES - **Jurisdiction:** Ohio - **Kind:** Court rules - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Ohio Rules of Court / Judges and Attorneys / Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio / Ohio Gov.Bar R. IV ## Text VIOLATION OF EXAMINATION RULES AND IRREGULARITIES Section 1. Violations An applicant may be subject to sanctions ranging from public reprimand to disqualification, if the applicant does any of the following: (A) Gives or receives aid in answering examination questions; (B) Begins working on an examination segment before time to begin has been called; (C) Continues working on an examination segment for any period of time after time to stop has been called; (D) Brings prohibited materials into the examination hall; (E) Removes testing materials from the examination hall; (F) Otherwise violates any written or oral examination instructions. Section 2. Investigation by Board (A) Upon an allegation of a breach of examination rules or other examination irregularity by an applicant, the Board of Bar Examiners shall provide the applicant an opportunity to submit a written explanation. The Board shall review the allegations and the applicant’s written response and take appropriate action, which may include referring the matter to the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness or an evidentiary hearing pursuant to Section 3 of this rule. (B) Actions taken by the Board shall require agreement by a majority of its members and shall be final and not subject to appeal. (C) The investigation by the Board shall be confidential and not subject to subpoena. Records of the investigation shall not be subject to public access pursuant to Sup.R. 44 through 47. However, a finding by the Board of irregularity or breach of examination rules shall be made public. Section 3. Evidentiary hearing (A) If the Board of Bar Examiners refers a matter to an evidentiary hearing pursuant to Section 2 of this rule, the Chair of the Board shall appoint a three-member panel consisting of Board members to conduct the hearing, and the Office of Bar Admissions shall appoint an active Ohio attorney to present the alleged violations or irregularities to the panel. Section 3. Evidentiary hearing (A) If the Board of Bar Examiners refers a matter to an evidentiary hearing pursuant to Section 2 of this rule, the Chair of the Board shall appoint a three-member panel consisting of Board members to conduct the hearing, and the Office of Bar Admissions shall appoint an active Ohio attorney to present the alleged violations or irregularities to the panel. (B) The burden of proof in the evidentiary hearing shall be on the Office of Bar Admissions to establish by clear and convincing evidence the applicant breached the examination rules or engaged in other examination irregularity. (C) An applicant’s failure to provide requested information or to cooperate in the proceedings before the panel may be grounds for disqualification of the applicant’s bar examination. (D) A hearing before the panel may be waived upon agreement of the parties and the panel, and the panel may proceed with its own investigation of the allegations and base its recommendation on the results. (E) Following the evidentiary hearing, the panel shall issue a report and recommendation to the full Board. ## Nearby sections - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. I Rule I. ADMISSION TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RI.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. II Rule II. LIMITED PRACTICE OF LAW BY A LEGAL INTERN](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RII.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. III Rule III. LEGAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE LAW](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RIII.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. IV Rule IV. VIOLATION OF EXAMINATION RULES AND IRREGULARITIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RIV.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. IX Rule IX. TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION FOR PRACTICE IN LEGAL SERVICES, PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND LAW SCHOOL PROGRAMS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RIX.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. V Rule V. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RV.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. VI Rule VI. REGISTRATION OF ATTORNEYS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RVI.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. VII Rule VII. UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RVII.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. VIII Rule VIII. LAWYERS’ FUND FOR CLIENT PROTECTION OF THE SUPREME](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RVIII.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. X Rule X. CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RX.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. XI Rule XI. LIMITED PRACTICE OF LAW BY FOREIGN LEGAL CONSULTANTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RXI.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. XII Rule XII. PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RXII.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. XIII Rule XIII. [RESERVED]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RXIII.md) - [Ohio Gov.Bar R. XV Rule XV. SUPREME COURT COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONALISM](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RXV.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_OH_GOVBAR_RIV. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.