At age 21[1] or 22[2] he began the study of law at the office of Joshua Reed Giddings and Benjamin Wade, and was admitted to the bar in 1836.

[2] In 1850, in heavily Whig Trumbull and Geauga counties, Ranney was elected to the second State Constitutional Convention.

In 1892, a committee of the Ohio Bar, including Allen G. Thurman, Jacob Dolson Cox, F.E.

In this body of distinguished lawyers, jurists and statesmen, there were few members who had as thorough knowledge of political science, constitutional law, political and judicial history and the principles of jurisprudence as Judge Ranney displayed in the debates of the convention.

There was no more profound, acute and convincing reasoner on the floor of the convention, and in the committee rooms his suggestions and enlightened mind were invaluable.

[3] In 1859, Ranney was nominated the Democratic candidate for governor, but lost to Republican William Dennison.