Former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has been suspended from practicing law for six months following a ruling by the state's Supreme Court. The decision comes after Ravnsborg's involvement in a fatal car crash that led to his impeachment and removal from office.
The South Dakota Supreme Court issued the ruling four years after Ravnsborg's vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian, Joe Boever, in 2020.
Ravnsborg, who was elected attorney general in 2018, was driving near Highmore on September 12, 2020, when the accident occurred according to The South Dakota Searchlight.
He initially claimed that he thought he had hit a deer, but later discovered Boever's body. His handling of the aftermath of the accident, along with the investigation that followed, raised serious concerns about his conduct.
The court's decision to suspend Ravnsborg's law license comes after a thorough review of his actions following the crash.
According to the ruling, Ravnsborg's conduct during the investigation was deemed "unbecoming" of an attorney. The Supreme Court specifically called out his evolving explanations regarding his cellphone use while driving as dishonest.
In 2021, Ravnsborg pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges related to the crash, including illegal lane changes and failing to avoid a pedestrian. He did not admit to using his cell phone at the time of the collision, although evidence later showed that he had spent much of the drive on his phone.
In 2022, the South Dakota Legislature impeached and convicted Ravnsborg, removing him from his position as attorney general.
The impeachment was based on his conduct after the crash, including his decision to remain in office while the criminal case against him proceeded.
The Supreme Court ruling also noted that Ravnsborg misused his position as attorney general, both during the investigation of the crash and in previous traffic stops. His actions, according to the court, were inappropriate for someone in his role.
The Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of South Dakota initially recommended a 26-month suspension of Ravnsborg's law license.
However, Ravnsborg contested this recommendation, arguing that it was excessive. Referee Judge Bradley Zell agreed in part, ruling that Ravnsborg’s conduct warranted censure but not a lengthy suspension.
Despite the referee's opinion, the South Dakota Supreme Court disagreed and concluded that a suspension was necessary. However, they reduced the suspension to six months, noting that Ravnsborg's misdemeanors were less severe than the felony reckless manslaughter charges faced by former Governor Bill Janklow, who was involved in a separate fatal crash.
In addition to the suspension, Ravnsborg is required to reimburse the court and the State Bar for the costs of the proceedings. The exact amount has not yet been disclosed.
Ravnsborg has stated that he does not plan to practice law in South Dakota following the conclusion of these proceedings.
Despite this, he remains involved in political activities. He is currently listed as the chair and treasurer of a political action committee called "$99 for Freedom."
The committee, which had around $28,000 in cash as of its most recent campaign finance disclosure, has not contributed to any campaigns or made significant expenditures. Recent attempts to contact the committee have been unsuccessful, with calls to its phone number going unanswered and emails receiving no reply.
The South Dakota Supreme Court's ruling highlighted several instances where Ravnsborg's conduct during the investigation was troubling. The court pointed to his evolving explanations about his cellphone use, describing them as involving "actual dishonesty and misrepresentations."
"It is evident, even as of the time of oral argument to this Court, that Ravnsborg failed to consider how his actions following the accident and the subsequent investigation would impact his office’s ability to fulfill its duties in such a way that maintained the public’s confidence," the opinion stated.
Ravnsborg only reluctantly admitted to looking at his phone after being confronted with specific evidence found on his device. His initial denial of using his phone during the trip was a major factor in the court’s decision to suspend his law license.
While Ravnsborg's future in the legal profession appears to be over, the court emphasized the importance of suspending his license to preserve the integrity of the profession.
"While Ravnsborg is unlikely to continue practicing law in South Dakota, we conclude suspension is necessary to preserve the integrity of the profession and deter like conduct by other attorneys," the court stated.
The ruling brings to a close a lengthy legal and political saga that began with the tragic death of Joe Boever in 2020. Ravnsborg, once a well-respected public servant with a military background, now faces the end of his legal career in South Dakota.
