Lawyer With Penchant For Driving Naked Is Suspended Indefinitely From Practice
And he's accused of sometimes doing more than just being nude in his car....
(Stock image via Getty)
When asked to show their briefs, most lawyers would happily oblige the request. But when you’ve been repeatedly accused of driving while nude, it’s a little tricky.
Meet Scott Blauvelt, an Ohio lawyer who was recently suspended from practicing law indefinitely thanks to his predilection for driving in the buff — while sometimes masturbating and exposing himself to others. Eek!
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The ABA Journal has additional details on Blauvelt’s history:
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.
Although Blauvelt has “expressed sincere remorse for his misconduct” and “earnestly embraced” participation in a two-year outpatient program for mental health treatment (specifically to address a compulsive sexual behavior disorder), he told the court that he continues to struggle with the urge to engage in acts of public indecency. Blauvelt also sees a psychiatrist to treat bipolar disorder, and stated during his disciplinary hearing that his struggles would “likely persist throughout his life” while he undergoes treatment.
In its opinion, Ohio Supreme Court came to the following decision:
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After reviewing the record in this case and our precedent, we agree that an indefinite suspension is the appropriate sanction to protect the public and ensure that Blauvelt cannot resume the practice of law until he is able to conform his conduct to the ethical and professional standards incumbent on lawyers in this state.
In order to regain his admission to practice, in addition to satisfying the usual requirements, Blauvelt must demonstrate alcohol abstinence and provide proof that he’s in compliance with his mental-health treatment plan. If and when his admission is reinstated, he’ll serve a period of monitored probation.
Lawyer with history of driving while naked gets indefinite suspension [ABA Journal]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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