SD Bar Association asks for Ravnsborg’s law license to be suspended

The disciplinary board of the South Dakota State Bar Association is asking the South Dakota Supreme Court to suspend the law license of former attorney general Jason Ravnsborg for a period just over two years.

Ravnsborg was impeached and removed from office last year for striking and killing pedestrian Joseph Boever near Highmore.

The board issued the recommendation on May 19th of this year. It states that Ravnsborg violated professional conduct standards and eroded public confidence in the legal profession by his actions after the accident.

The board recommends a suspension of Ravnsborg’s law license for 26 months, retroactive to June 21, 2022, the date he was removed from office.

Ravnsborg formally denied the allegations in the recommendation and the issue now goes to a separate referee to take testimony and issue any additional findings of fact. The State Supreme Court makes the final decision.

Ravnsborg has not practiced law since his removal from office, but he did tell the disciplinary board that he intends to seek a position in an undetermined jurisdiction.

June 30, 2023