Dann Fights For Law License

For the first time in Ohio history, the Ohio Supreme Court will decide whether to suspend the law license of the person who had served as Attorney General, the state’s top lawyer. "It is now clear that the last step I must take to fix these problems is to resign as Attorney General, effective immediately." Those were the words Marc Dann used when he stepped down from his A.G. office in 2008. But Marc Dann’s resignation during a sexual harassment scandal wasn’t the last step. Since the Democrat from Youngstown left office, he's faced several probes and hearings on what he and his staffers did when he was AG. But perhaps the biggest remains: arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court on whether Dann’s law license should be suspended for six months. The Office of Disciplinary Council has twice suggested a stayed penalty, but the Disciplinary Board has recommended a six-month suspension based on Dann’s two misdemeanor ethics convictions: improperly paying state employees from campaign funds, and filing inaccurate financial disclosure statements while in office. Dann counters by saying the suspension goes too far, especially when compared to the reprimand issued to Republican Gov. Bob Taft, who was convicted of ethics violations while still in office. But the disciplinary council notes Dann committed these acts while serving as Ohio’s chief attorney, and says the negative attention Dann brought to the AG’s office warrants an actual suspension. Dann is practicing law in the Cleveland area and would not be able to work as an attorney if his license is suspended, but he could if the suspension is stayed.