The Monumental Legal Career of Jude Aubry by Mike Bruno

Jude Aubry is worthy of consideration for Toledo’s Mount Rushmore of family law attorneys. The problem is that he keeps on practicing law at a high level into his eighties. The Sculptor will go about his business if and when Jude ever stops advocating for his clients.

I caught up with Jude over lunch recently. Jude’s Early Childhood was spent living in the Franklin Avenue area. He attended St Mary’s Elementary until his parents’ divorce during seventh grade. Things changed as his Mom moved the family to West Toledo and Jude found himself in a new school, Blessed Sacrament, starting the 8th grade.

He survived eighth grade and attended Central Catholic High School, where he graduated in 1958. Jude’s desire was to go away to college. Finding scholarships was a challenge. He found a way to get into Ohio State but had to enroll in the dairy technology program. That lasted one quarter.

During college, Jude tested the political waters, running for office as a sophomore. The only problem was the school listed the candidate as Judy Aubry. To correct this, Jude had to navigate the bureaucratic College system where, ultimately, Thomas Moyer, (yes the same Thomas Moyer who would later preside as Ohio Supreme Court chief justice), ruled in his favor. Unfortunately,
although the battle was won, the war was lost. Neither Jude nor Judy Aubrey was electable.

Jude returned home after graduating from OSU and enrolled in Toledo’s law school. He worked during law school as an insurance adjuster for Allstate and Buckeye Union.

After graduating from law school and passing the Ohio bar, Jude joined Gene Winchester and Andy Douglas in the general practice of law for 7 years. Besides sharpening his political skills, Jude shared his amazement at how W & D ran their law practice, especially the Monday and Tuesday shifts at their East Toledo office, where clients lined up outside.

Following his Winchester and Douglas years, Jude associated with Jim Gaynor and Bill Meyer in the Spitzer Building. His practice was increasingly focused on family law, helping clients navigate custody cases, divorces, dissolutions, parental rights, and prenuptial agreements. He has continued this remarkable Journey for close to 60 years and still maintains the highest peer-reviewed ratings and distinctions.

I asked Jude if his age was a problem, thinking some of his clients are several generations younger. His response: “I remind them that I went through divorce as a child and went through a divorce myself. Who do you want? Some youngster or an attorney who knows all the tricks of the trade?”

Memorable cases include one that reached the Ohio Supreme Court. During the oral argument, a certain justice, Andy Douglas, was peppering Jude’s opponent with questions from the moment he stood up until he sat down. After the decision was released, (Jude’s client won), the still shell-shocked opposing counsel maintained that Jude had somehow orchestrated the result by virtue of his earlier association with Andy Douglas.

Over the years, Jude has always practiced within a few minutes walk of the family court. He has been with Legal Associates for a couple of decades. He enjoys the camaraderie of being part of a group, but also the autonomy of running his own practice.

Is there a Jude Aubry outside of the law practice? That is a fair question for a guy who still works Saturday mornings. The answer is “yes.” After all, he gets to come home to Mrs. Aubry, the fabulous Susan Martin, who ran a tight ship at the Toledo Bar Association a few years back.

He has the fitness routine of a 25-year-old: Two times a week in spin class, and two times a week in strength training. And just when you think there aren’t enough hours in the day, Jude still finds the time to meet his weekly breakfast group, which includes Chris Parker, George Gusses, Greg Arnold, and Ted Tucker.

Jude Aubry: that rare combination of grit, enduring excellence, and empathy!