Taft reprimanded by Ohio's high court

COLUMBUS — Days before his term is set to expire, Gov. Bob Taft received a public reprimand from the Ohio Supreme Court for unreported gifts he accepted during his administration.

"There must be no misunderstanding that the legal profession demands adherence to the highest standards of honesty and integrity; and lawyers who hold public office must be especially scrupulous in this regard," the high

court quoted in its decision today.

The high court attributed the quote to the disciplinary panel that considered the case.

The high court voted 6-0 to accept the findings and recommendations of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline and impose a public

reprimand.

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton recused herself from the case.

"We accept the factors found by the board and therefore agree that a public reprimand is appropriate," the high court's decision read.

Taft attorney Geoffrey Stern said he was happy with the high court's decision.

"I was quite pleased the court put its stamp of approval on the agreement reached some months ago," Stern said.

He added the governor has acted responsibly throughout the matter.

Taft, a licensed attorney since 1976, reportedly violated the Code of Professional Responsibility when he accepted gifts of golf outings and other events worth a combined total of $5,682 and failed to report them.

Reportedly 52 gifts from 19 sources went unreported.

The governor and certain other public officials are required by law to report each year the source of any gifts received that are valued at more than $75.

In 2005, Taft and his office reportedly discovered that while the financial disclosure forms were filed each year, they were missing numerous gifts that needed reporting from 1998 until 2004.

Taft reported the problem to the Ohio Ethics Commission, which began an investigation.

In August 2005, Taft was charged and pleaded no contest to four counts of knowingly filing a false disclosure statement, a first-degree misdemeanor.

He was fined $4,000, ordered to e-mail an apology to all state of Ohio employees and media outlets and to pay for the unreported gifts.

The Supreme Court's Office of Disciplinary Counsel also conducted an investigation, which eventually enter into a "consent-to-discipline" agreement with Taft's attorneys.

Taft's disciplinary history of no prior violations, career in public service, cooperation with disciplinary proceedings and timely restitution were considered in the board's decision and recommendations to the state supreme court.

"The board was convinced [Taft's] nondisclosures were not the result of any dishonesty or selfishness," the decision read.

Taft is currently on inactive status with the Ohio Supreme Court, but Stern said he could go back on active status if he wanted to and the reprimand would not affect his ability to practice law.