Taft says his plans are to teach public policy, not to practice law

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Gov. Bob Taft, publicly reprimanded by the Ohio Supreme Court this week, said Friday he has no plans to practice law after leaving office but will stay in the state and teach public policy at an Ohio university.
Taft, a lawyer on inactive status, hasn't practiced in several years and says he never planned to resume a legal career.
"I haven't had any plans to do that for a long, long time," he said. "My interest has always been in education."
The Supreme Court said Wednesday that Taft's conviction on ethics violations last year violated rules for proper conduct by attorneys. The reprimand was a black mark on Taft's permanent record as an attorney but wouldn't have stopped him from practicing law if he chose.
Taft, 64, who has been an attorney since 1976, acknowledged in a no-contest plea last year that he failed to report golf outings and other gifts and was fined 4,000. He was the first Ohio governor to be charged with a crime while in office.
Taft, a Republican, wouldn't discuss the reprimand, which ended the ethics case against him.
"It's done, it's over, we're moving ahead," Taft said. "We're signing good legislation for the state."
Taft spoke about his future after signing a bill that requires insurance companies to provide coverage for mental illness.
Taft says he wants to be active in education reform efforts in Ohio and nationally after he leaves office next month. He hasn't decided where in Ohio he wants to teach but says he would focus on public policy or education policy.