The South Dakota Supreme Court has suspended the law license of former Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg following a fatal accident that occurred last year. The court made its decision after considering the findings of a disciplinary panel that determined Ravnsborg had violated legal ethics by his actions in the accident.
The incident in question took place on September 12, 2020, when Ravnsborg struck and killed pedestrian Joe Boever while driving home from a political event. Initially, Ravnsborg claimed he had thought he hit a deer, but the investigation revealed he had actually hit Boever. Ravnsborg eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of making an illegal lane change and using a mobile device while driving.
Ravnsborg’s legal troubles escalated when a disciplinary panel found that he had engaged in misleading and deceptive behavior during the investigation into the accident. The panel concluded that Ravnsborg had not been forthright about his actions and had failed to cooperate fully with authorities.
The South Dakota Supreme Court agreed with the panel’s findings and decided to suspend Ravnsborg’s law license for 60 days, beginning on May 28. The court also ordered Ravnsborg to pay $1,000 in costs.
Ravnsborg has faced calls for his resignation since the incident, but he has refused to step down. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement of his law license after the 60-day suspension period has ended.
The decision to suspend Ravnsborg’s law license has stirred controversy in South Dakota, with some critics arguing that the punishment does not go far enough given the severity of the incident. The case has raised questions about accountability and transparency within the legal system.
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