Members

Northwest Ohio

Terrence Rudes, JD, ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Terry was born and raised in northwest Ohio. Upon graduation from high school he volunteered for the draft and attended Army Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant. After serving a tour as an infantry officer in Viet Nam, he returned to Fort Benning where he was assigned to the post Judge Advocate General’s office where he tried numerous courts martial. Upon leaving active duty he attended the University of Toledo where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1973 and Juris Doctor in 1976. He entered practice as an assistant prosecutor and later opened his own practice in Port Clinton Ohio, focused on criminal defense and impaired driving cases. Areas of Expertise Early in his career, he recognized the considerable consequences of a DUI conviction and need to be able to provide the best possible defense for his clients. Terry twice completed the NHTSA Field Sobriety Testing, twice completed the Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) program, and attended a 3 day training program at National Patent Analytical Systems on the DataMaster family of breath testing instruments. Terry continued his training by attending classes at Axion Laboratory, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois, on Gas Chromatography, Solid Drugs, and DUI Drugs. After completing the American Chemists Society test, he was awarded the designation as a Forensic Lawyer-Scientist, one of only 7 lawyers in Ohio to have earned the designation at the time. Professional Recognition & Peer Endorsements Terry is a member of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers(OACDL) and founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA). He is an excellent OVI/DUI attorney and often contributes to the OACDL list serve. His peers consistently recognize him as a leader in Ohio's DUI defense community. Terry has presented at OVI Seminars for Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Advanced OVI Seminars for 40 years; numerous OVI Seminars for the Ohio State Bar Association, OVI Seminars for Sandusky County, Ottawa County and Lorain County Bar Association, and Lorman Educational Services. Professional Affiliations Ohio State Bar Member Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL) DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA) and other local bar associations. Notable Cases State v. Durnwald,163 Ohio App.3d 361 (Ohio App. 6 Dist. 2005), 837 N.E.2d 1234, 2005-Ohio-4867; State v. Galbreath, 741 N.E.2d 936, 138 Ohio App.3d 559, 2000-Ohio-1728 (Ohio App. 6 Dist. 2000); State v. Benton, 737 N.E.2d 1046, 136 Ohio App.3d 801, 2000-Ohio-1656 (Ohio App. 6 Dist. 2000)

University of Toledo BA 1973 Juris Doctor 1976

Felony and misdemeanor trials and appeals for 47 years.

State v. Durnwald,163 Ohio App.3d 361 (Ohio App. 6 Dist. 2005), 837 N.E.2d 1234, 2005-Ohio-4867; State v. Galbreath, 741 N.E.2d 936, 138 Ohio App.3d 559, 2000-Ohio-1728 (Ohio App. 6 Dist. 2000); State v. Benton, 737 N.E.2d 1046, 136 Ohio App.3d 801, 2000-Ohio-1656 (Ohio App. 6 Dist. 2000)

Presented at the DUIDLA Seminar in Chicago in September 2025. OVI Seminars for Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Advanced OVI Seminars for 40 years; numerous OVI Seminars for the Ohio State Bar Association, OVI Seminars for Sandusky County, Ottawa County and Lorain County Bar Association, and Lorman Educational Services. Firearms Seminars for National Business Institute and Ottawa County Bar Association.