Ohio Gov. May Face State Ethics Charges

[cynatnite]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A state office that monitors lawyer behavior recommended Monday that Gov. Bob Taft be disciplined for failing to report golf outings and other gifts while in office.

Taft pleaded no contest in August to the ethics violations and was fined $4,000. He was the first Ohio governor to be charged with a crime while in office.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel, an arm of the state Supreme Court, said Monday that Taft also violated Ohio's code of professional conduct for lawyers, which states that a lawyer shall not ``engage in any other conduct that adversely reflects on the lawyer's fitness to practice law.''

The final decision on punishment ultimately lies with the Supreme Court. Taft could face a penalty ranging from a reprimand to loss of his license to practice law, or the court could decide no penalty is warranted.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5746148,00.html

[ladjf]

1. Don't worry Ohio. When Blackwell gets in the office, he will

clean things up as he did the elections of 2004.