Ex-Rep. Janklow to Get Law License Back

Forbes,com ^ | 01.05.2006, 10:19 AM | CHET BROKAW

[StarCMC]

Former Rep. Bill Janklow, who resigned from Congress after being convicted in a deadly traffic accident, will have his law license reinstated next month, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

The decision followed a recommendation by the State Bar's Disciplinary Board. The judge who sentenced Janklow in the manslaughter trial had recommended waiting until Janklow's probation ends in January 2007. Instead, the license will be reinstated Feb. 15.

Janklow, a former four-term governor, was automatically suspended as a lawyer after a jury found him guilty in December 2003 of running a stop sign and killing motorcyclist Randy Scott, 55, in August 2003.

The Republican politician spent 100 days in jail, was put on probation and cannot drive for three years.

At a Supreme Court hearing in October, Janklow, 66, had asked for the license to be reinstated immediately.

"I can tell you that I'm sorry for what happened," Janklow said at the time.

In its ruling, the state Supreme Court said the return of Janklow's law license poses no threat to the public because his convictions were not related to the practice of law and did not involve fraud, deceit or dishonesty.

"While there are public concerns regarding Janklow's driving, there was no evidence presented to suggest that the public needs protection from Janklow's conduct as an attorney," Judge Glen Severson wrote for the high court. He added that Janklow "has had a long and distinguished career as an attorney."

The crash near Trent, S.D., ended Janklow's political career. He had dominated South Dakota politics for three decades, first as attorney general, then a four-term governor and finally the state's only member of the U.S. House.

Scott's motorcycle plowed into the side of Janklow's car as Janklow sped through a stop sign. Prosecutors said Janklow had a long habit of speeding, characterizing his driving as "awful and menacing."

The defense said Janklow, who was diagnosed with diabetes in 1998, did not stop or slow down because his judgment and driving skills were impaired by low blood sugar.

[HOTTIEBOY]

...and I've been riding since 1948.

Sir, I haven't been riding as long as that. Heck, I haven't even been alive that long. Got my first street bike in 1988. (Interceptor 500) Since then I have participated in progressive tactical racing on some of the fastest motorcycles in the world. (Yamaha YZR-M1 Valentino Rossi replica) and cruised on some of the slowest motorcycles in the world. (harley-davidson...any model)
All those years of hanging around tracks and basically just living amongst motorcycles taught me one thing. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE. Even after a month of being off a bike, one can loose some skill. And nobody ever has as much skill as they think they do. I would enjoy riding with a man such as yourself because you have what no class can teach and that is experience.

[linda_22003]

" I can tell you that I'm sorry for what happened," Janklow said at the time. "

Nice wording. Not "I'm sorry for what I did", but just for "what happened".

[mewzilla]

can't have that, the ACLU will get mad about his privacy invaded.

Ah, but there's no right to privacy on the public roadways, is there? I hope they sic the videocams on him.

[mewzilla]

Randy Scott's motorcycle after Janklow hit it.

[StarCMC]

Sturgis lost any appeal it had with me when they chose ELTON JOHN to be the entertainment at their anniversary celebration. Whatever happened to "Made in the USA" anyway?

[StarCMC]

He IS a lawyer isn't he?

[gridlock]

"I can tell you that I'm sorry for what happened," Janklow said at the time.

Oh, you can! You can tell us that!

Oh, well thank you ever so much for telling us that. That you are sorry for what happened. You're not sorry for what you did, of course. Randy Scott must have been killed by a meteorite or something...

I mean, I'm sorry for what happened, and I was two thousand miles away! I'm always sorry when VIPs act like STOP signs are for the little people and run over innocents.

Do you think you could fit a couple more qualifiers into that statement?

[HOTTIEBOY]

..my pregnant wife (with twins) and I had a sit-down over canned peaches about the bike, wherein I agreed to hang up the helmet...

I have a similar story.
While riding a 2001 ZX12 through Deals Gap (Infamous Tail of the Dragon) I came out of one particular curve at 10,500 rpm not knowing that the next curve was only about 250 yards ahead. Well, a ZX12 can swallow 250 yards in mere seconds so I ended up low-siding to avoid the guardrail.
After talking it over with my wife, we realized that that was too dangerous.

So I decided to exit that curve in third gear instead of second to avoid any front end uneasiness and be stable enough to enter the next curve.

[gridlock]

If I am named Dictator of the World^TM,, Jankow would have to walk anyplace he wanted to go and I'd have to think hard on if he would be allowed shoes.

You got my vote, Pikachu...

[gridlock]

16 years to go

...tick...tick...tick...

Look on the bright side. By the time you get back out there, your bike will be a classic!

Oh, the things we do for love!

(PS: Only 10 1/2 more years for me!)

[gridlock]

I would enjoy riding with a man such as yourself because you have what no class can teach and that is experience.

Hey, I have no class as well! Maybe we can all get together for a ride when the Missus gives me the keys back!

Only 3,464 days to go!

[HOTTIEBOY]

when the Missus gives me the keys back...

As a man, that statement makes me want to vomit.

As a rider it makes me want to cry.

Hey! See if she can let you have your nads back too!

Just funnin with you gridlock. Holler when you can, er, are ALLOWED to come out and play. I may be riding a Goldwing or a trike by then...it's inevitable you know.

[JoeSixPack1]

So I decided to exit that curve in third gear instead of second to avoid any front end uneasiness and be stable enough to enter the next curve.

Hey, any more of those upper echelon intelligence upshifting and you might be ready for a a brand new box of 'Depends'. :-)

[MeanWestTexan]

"So I decided to exit that curve in third gear instead of second to avoid any front end uneasiness and be stable enough to enter the next curve."

LOL.

Oh, I've had some 100mph+ spills, but they don't worry me. It's going 15mph through and intersection when the witch in the Suburban takes a left on top of you.

Or changes lanes on top of you.

It's that uncontrollable witch-in-a-can factor that worried me.

[MeanWestTexan]

". . . By the time you get back out there, your bike will be a classic!"

All bikes sold (rice burner crotch rocket, rice burner cruiser, and Victory), alas.

I purchased the next best thing --- Porsche C4S Cabriolet.

[HOTTIEBOY]

Hey, any more of those upper echelon intelligence upshifting and you might be ready for a a brand new box of 'Depends'

You know, I have never needed Depends on a track or by myself. (except for that tank-slapper last summer)

But there have been plenty of times in the midst of cell phone yakking teenage drivers where I nearly ruined my new leathers. Maybe Depends should be new required riding gear in traffic.

[HOTTIEBOY]

Turbo?

[MeanWestTexan]

No, just shy, but with most of the HP of the turbo. I just couldn't pay that much for a car.

It looks like this, but black (and no nav system and the stock wheels):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-911-C4S-Cab-Seal-Gray-C4S-Cab-GT3-Wheels-Rear-Wing-Navigation_W0QQitemZ4601699680QQcategoryZ10156QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[JoeSixPack1]

...Depends should be new required riding gear in traffic.

With all the retirees buying Harley's, Corbin Seat Mfg should have something in the design stage! :-)

[HOTTIEBOY]

Hey, just have Harley endorse it and put it on a shelf right beside Harley board games and Harley cappuccino makers and the bewildered herd will buy it.