Ohio court publicly reprimands ex-Ohio lawmaker

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has publicly reprimanded a former state lawmaker for a drunken-driving violation and for negligently misrepresenting facts on his Ohio driver’s license renewal.

The court voted 6-1 today to reprimand Cincinnati attorney Robert Mecklenborg. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor dissented.

The court followed the conclusion of a court disciplinary board that reviews allegations of legal misconduct by an attorney.

Mecklenborg was arrested on a drunken-driving charge in Indiana in April 2011. Four days later, while renewing his expired driver’s license, he signed a preprinted form stating he didn’t have pending citations in Ohio or elsewhere.

In its review, the disciplinary board found that Mecklenborg was not intentionally dishonest on the form, but acting on the advice of his attorney.