Sex And Blogging Gets Attorney Suspended
An attorney who had served as Cook County prosecutor was suspended without possibility of reinstatement for three years by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Timothy Christopher Scannell has committed professional misconduct warranting public discipline, namely, committing two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and making derogatory statements on his blog about criminal defendants that he was currently prosecuting, in violation of Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 3.6(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(d).
Respondent waived his rights under Rule 14, Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR), unconditionally admitted the allegations in the petition, and with the Director recommended that the appropriate discipline is an indefinite suspension with no right to petition for reinstatement for 3 years.
Following receipt of the parties’ stipulation for discipline, we issued an order directing the parties to file memoranda of law showing cause why respondent should not be subject to more severe discipline. Only the Director filed a memorandum in response to the order to show cause.
The court has independently reviewed the file and approves the recommended disposition.
Details from the Duluth News Tribune
Scannell, 49, was convicted by a jury last July of two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, stemming from his relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
He was subsequently removed from office by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and served a 30-day jail sentence…
Scannell served nearly two full terms as Cook County’s elected attorney. He was propelled into the spotlight in December 2011, when he was shot and seriously wounded by a man he had successfully prosecuted on sex crime charges.
However, it was just a year later that Scannell was accused of having a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, whom he coached and mentored. According to trial testimony, Scannell kissed the girl on numerous occasions and touched her sexually.
(Mike Frisch)