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Friday, March 29, 2024

Former Ohio AG Dann testifies before panel

Dann

CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - A three-member Ohio disciplinary panel, following a hearing Thursday, will decide whether former state Attorney General Marc Dann should have his law license suspended.

The panel, made up of a lawyer and two judges appointed by the state's high court, is tasked with recommending a penalty for the charges against Dann.

In 2010, Dann pleaded guilty to failing to disclose outside income on state required financial disclosure forms, and for helping two of his aides pay their living expenses with money from his campaign account.

Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Ted Barrows fined him $1,000 and sentenced him to perform 500 hours of community service.

Dann was forced to resign as the state's top lawyer in May 2008 -- just two years after being elected -- amid a sexual harassment scandal and after admitting to an extra-marital affair with a staffer.

Richard Cordray, now in line to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, was elected to the attorney general post in November 2008 to serve the remainder of Dann's term.

According to The Plain Dealer, Dann testified for about an hour Thursday.

Lawyers on both sides have recommended his license be suspended, but that it should be delayed six months.

However, on Thursday, the disciplinary counsel argued for a one-year delayed suspension, the newspaper reported.

The panel will make its recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline next month or February. The board then will instruct the state Supreme Court, which has the final say.

From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.

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