In a twist fit for a surreal courtroom drama, the Ohio Supreme Court handed down a one-year suspension (with a six-month reprieve) to criminal defense attorney Jack Allen Blakeslee. This unprecedented disciplinary action stemmed from a perplexing and unsavory incident involving a Pringles can filled with human feces, abandoned in a victim advocacy center’s parking lot.
Jack Allen Blakeslee suspended : A Puzzling Prank or a Protest?
The justices of the Buckeye State were confounded by Blakeslee’s erratic explanation for his actions. Initially, he dismissed it as a series of pranks, involving leaving Pringles cans brimming with his waste at various locations. Later, he vaguely referenced these acts as a form of protest, leaving the exact motive shrouded in mystery.
Legal Decorum Thrown to the Wind
The Ohio Supreme Court, while acknowledging the absence of explicit rules against such bizarre conduct, underscored that Blakeslee’s actions blatantly defied societal norms and legal decorum. His strange impulse to leave feces-filled cans in public spaces was seen as a direct reflection of his current unfitness to practice law, drawing significant negative media attention to the legal profession.
Jack Allen Blakeslee suspended : The Curious Case of Haven of Hope
The incident reached its climax when Blakeslee, mere minutes before a pretrial hearing at a nearby courthouse, flung an open can of his feces in the parking lot of Haven of Hope, a victim advocacy center. This act seemed particularly targeted as Blakeslee was due to meet Haven of Hope’s CEO Michelle Carpenter Wilkinson in court for a murder case.
Random Acts or Targeted Intimidation?
The Ohio Supreme Court diverged from Blakeslee’s claim of randomness in his choice of locations for his unsanitary deposits. Evidence suggested a deliberate choice in targeting Haven of Hope, given the signage around the parking lot and Blakeslee’s established relationship with the center and Wilkinson. This act, the justices argued, was an escalation of his previously random pattern, seeking a thrill by involving an acquaintance in his distasteful prank.
The Verdict and Dissenting Voices
Ultimately, Blakeslee’s license to practice law has been put on hold for a year, with a caveat: further misconduct could trigger the remaining six months of suspension. Justices Pat DeWine and Pat Fischer expressed differing views, with Fischer advocating for a two-year suspension coupled with probation.
