Lawyer with history of driving while naked gets indefinite suspension
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The Ohio Supreme Court indefinitely suspended lawyer Scott Blauvelt on Thursday after he was accused multiple times of driving while nude.
The state supreme court said Blauvelt’s conduct adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law, although none of the incidents involved clients.
Court News Ohio summarized the June 23 opinion.
Blauvelt had been fired in 2006 from his job as a prosecutor in Hamilton, Ohio, for allegedly walking around naked after hours in the government building where he worked, according to 2008 coverage of his bid for civil service protections.
In June 2020, Blauvelt pleaded guilty to charges of public indecency and reckless operation of a motor vehicle for an arrest for driving while nude in October 2018, resulting in a stayed suspension. He received an interim suspension in September 2020, the same month that he was charged with another instance of nude driving.
Blauvelt pleaded guilty or no contest to three incidents of public indecency after the first suspension, and he admits other instances in which he didn’t get caught.
Blauvelt “expressed sincere remorse for his misconduct” and “earnestly embraced” recommended mental health treatment, the Ohio Supreme court said. But he still struggles with the urge to continue the wrongful behavior and acknowledges that the struggle will likely be lifelong, the state supreme court said.
To gain readmission to law practice, Blauvelt will have to satisfy the usual requirements, demonstrate abstinence from alcohol and show proof that he is in full compliance with his treatment plan.
