A stunning decision by the South Dakota Supreme Court strips a former state official of his legal credentials.
According to The Western Journal, the South Dakota Supreme Court has ordered a six-month suspension of former Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg's law license.
The ruling follows Ravnsborg's involvement in a fatal pedestrian accident, contributing to his political downfall. The court highlighted his violation of professional conduct rules and criticized his actions as attorney general, stating they harmed the legal profession and justice system.
Ravnsborg, a Republican, was elected as South Dakota's Attorney General in 2018. His tenure was cut short less than two years after a tragic incident in 2020 that resulted in the death of 55-year-old Joe Boever. The pedestrian was struck and killed while walking along a rural highway.
The incident led to Ravnsborg's impeachment and subsequent removal from office. A disciplinary board of the South Dakota State Bar sought a 26-month suspension of Ravnsborg's law license, which would have been retroactive to June 2022 when he left office.
During a hearing before the South Dakota Supreme Court in February, Ravnsborg spoke on his own behalf, expressing remorse for the incident. He stated that he counts every day since the accident and says a prayer daily for Boever, himself, and all those affected by the tragedy.
The legal ramifications for Ravnsborg extended beyond his removal from office. In 2021, he resolved the criminal case by pleading no contest to a pair of traffic misdemeanors. These included making an illegal lane change and using a phone while driving, for which he was fined by a judge.
Additionally, Ravnsborg reached an undisclosed settlement with Boever's widow in 2021. The details of this agreement have not been made public, so privacy around the civil aspect of the case has been maintained.
The South Dakota Supreme Court's ruling highlighted concerns about Ravnsborg's honesty regarding his phone use on the night of the accident. The court also noted that forensic evidence raised questions about the veracity of his statements concerning the events of that night.
Thomas Frieberg, an attorney for the disciplinary board, emphasized that the board's focus was on Ravnsborg's actions following the accident. He stated that the board felt strongly that Ravnsborg was less than forthright and evasive in his responses.
The night of the accident, September 12, 2020, Ravnsborg was returning from a political fundraiser when his car struck what he initially described as "something" in a 911 call transcript. He suggested to the dispatcher that it might have been a deer or another animal. It was later revealed that the victim, Boever, had crashed his truck and was walking toward it near the road when he was hit.
Prosecutors at the 2022 impeachment hearing alleged that Ravnsborg made sure officers were aware of his position as attorney general, using his title to "set the tone and gain influence" in the aftermath of the crash. Ravnsborg's attorney, however, contended that he was merely responding to an officer's inquiry about his role.
The South Dakota Supreme Court's decision to suspend Ravnsborg's law license for six months marks a significant professional consequence for the former attorney general. This ruling underscores the importance of ethical conduct and honesty in the legal profession, especially for those in high-ranking public positions. The case continues to highlight the tragic loss of Joe Boever and the far-reaching impact of the 2020 accident on all involved parties.
