Former Southa Dakota Republican attorney general Jason Ravnsborg has been suspended from practicing law, just the latest blow to his career since he was removed from office for killing a pedestrian while driving.
The state's Supreme Court found that Ravnsborg's conduct after the fatal accident was deceptive and unbecoming of his position. The suspension is effective for six months.
Ravnsborg struck and killed 55-year-old Joe Boever, who was walking on the shoulder of the road, as Ravnsborg was driving home from a Republican event one night in September 2020.
Ravnsborg called 911 and said he hit something, which he later said he "assumed" was a deer.
The sheriff who responded to the scene didn't find anything, and the sheriff gave his personal vehicle to Ravnsborg to drive home. When Ravnsborg was returning the vehicle the next day, he found Boever's body.
Boever's glasses were later found in Ravnsborg's car, suggesting Boever had hit the windshield, but Ravnsborg denied seeing him. Boever was also carrying a phone flashlight that was still on the next day, but Ravnsborg said he didn't see that either.
Ravnsborg pled no contest in 2021 to operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device and improper lane driving.
He defied calls from the state's Republicans to step aside, but was impeached, convicted, and removed in office in 2022 over his role in the death.
The state's Supreme Court rebuked Ravnsborg for his conduct, in particular, lying to investigators about his cell phone use.
Ravnsborg initially denied using his cell phone, although he later admitted he was browsing political news while behind the wheel. Investigators found that Ravnsborg wasn't on his phone at the time of the crash, but he had been using it while driving.
“His evolving explanation regarding the extent of his cell phone use while driving involved actual dishonesty and misrepresentations,” the ruling said. “He only reluctantly admitted that he ‘looked at stuff’ on his phone after he was confronted with specific information found on his phone.”
The Supreme Court also criticized Ravnsborg for mentioning his title during the 911 call, and for failing to consider how his decision to stay on would impact public trust.
Ravnsborg told the court he had no plans to continue practicing law, but the Supreme Court said a suspension was needed to send a message.
“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.”
