The Ohio Supreme Court suspended the previous Hocking County prosecutor’s legislation license for 2 years after discovering he fostered an unprofessional work surroundings and engaged in misconduct, together with sexually harassing ladies within the workplace.
Ryan Black, 42, resigned as Hocking County prosecutor in April. He was elected prosecutor in November 2020 and took workplace in January 2021.
Ohio Board of Professional Conduct Records present that the state Supreme Court on Monday adopted the board’s suggestion to droop Black’s legislation license for 2 years, six months of which will probably be suspended. Black will probably be required to submit quarterly stories from his counselors on his progress and conform to random drug and alcohol testing.
A grievance was filed towards Black in April accusing him of sexually harassing feminine workers in his workplace and fostering an unprofessional work surroundings. Two former workers filed a federal civil rights lawsuit towards Black, which was dismissed by the staff in July.
The grievance additionally accused Black of:
Frequent use of obscenities to the purpose of constructing employees members uncomfortable
Commenting on a subordinate’s clothes in a sexual method
Sending unsolicited shirtless photographs of himself to a subordinate
Black informed the disciplinary committee throughout a September listening to that he had struggled along with his psychological well being, together with being identified and handled for bipolar dysfunction and self-medicating with alcohol. Black stated he struggled with alcohol abuse previously however maintained sobriety for about 10 years earlier than relapsing in 2023.
During the disciplinary listening to, Black informed a three-member panel that he realized quickly after taking up as a prosecutor, with lower than three years of authorized expertise, that he was “out of his thoughts.”
“I’d say it was one of many least, if not probably the most, professionally run places of work within the state and that was solely my duty and it’s completely disgusting to me that I’d enable this,” Black informed the jury.
To be reinstated as an lawyer, Black must present the Ohio Supreme Court with recommendation from a professional well being care skilled who can say Black will have the ability to return to the “competent, moral {and professional}” apply of legislation.
bbruner@gannett.com
This article initially appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Ohio prosecutor’s license suspended for sexual harassment
