Court bars about 2,500 lawyers

COLUMBUS (AP) -- About 5 percent of Ohio's attorneys are on suspension because they failed to pay a $300 registration fee, the state Supreme Court said.
The court barred about 2,500 lawyers Friday from practicing until they've been reinstated, marking the first time the state has issued suspensions under the policy and the first time that such a large number of attorneys have been suspended simultaneously.
Among those suspended are James Canepa, a top official in state Attorney General Jim Petro's office, and former Columbus Mayor Tom Moody, who is retired.
"The court feels that any attorney who practices law in Ohio should adhere to our requirements and pay the required fees," said Richard Dove, the court's director of attorney services. "The vast majority of lawyers do comply. It's not fair for those lawyers to subsidize the nonlicensed lawyers."
Ohio's Supreme Court registers lawyers, requiring a fee every two years.