OHIO Court suspends license of Trumbull Co. lawyer

The lawyer is in federal custody awaiting trial.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Supreme Court suspended the law license of Warren lawyer Maridee L. Costanzo on Thursday pending the outcome of a state probe of alleged unspecified violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers and judges.
The high court ordered Costanzo, who is in federal custody after being charged with trying to kill her estranged husband, to "immediately cease and desist from the practice of law in any form and is hereby forbidden to appear on behalf of another before any court, judge, commission, board, administrative agency or other public authority," according to the order.
It went on to say that Costanzo's law license could be reinstated if she complies with all of the requirements for reinstatement and complies with all other orders of the high court.
The Supreme Court's order follows a request from the Trumbull County Bar Association.
Evidence
According to news reports, federal prosecutors allege in sworn statements that a source told FBI agents that Costanzo had been trying to hire him or someone else to kill her estranged husband, Roger Bauer.
The source told prosecutors that he provided illegal drugs to Costanzo, and that he tape-recorded several conversations with Costanzo in which she allegedly said she wanted Bauer dead.
The informant also said, federal prosecutors allege, that Costanzo paid him $1,100, promised to pay more money in a few days and provided the informant with Bauer's picture.
Federal agents arrested Costanzo in April. Costanzo also faces a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon in a case that has been handed over to Trumbull County authorities.