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Supreme Court Debating Sex Offender’s Right To Take Bar Exam
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Ohio Supreme Court is debating whether a convicted sex offender who wants to be a lawyer should be allowed to take the state bar exam.
The court scheduled a Tuesday hearing for the request by John Tynes, a former Army officer convicted in military court of sex-related offenses after his arrest in 1998 in an FBI sting operation in which he thought he was meeting a 15-year-old girl for sex.
Tynes argues the case is nearly two decades old, he is fully rehabilitated and he didn’t actually engage in sex with a minor.
A review panel opposes the request based on the seriousness of the crime, the fact that Tynes delayed seeking counseling after leaving prison and that his becoming a lawyer would undermine the legal profession.