State bar asks for investigation into House Speaker Ralston | www.wsbtv.com

Investigators have asked the Supreme Court for a special master to look into allegations that Ralston violated several bar rules during an injury accident case he handled for several years.

State bar investigators [filed] a petition with the state Supreme Court Thursday, accusing Ralston of violating nine rules of professional conduct, including having a conflict of interest, not communicating, not expediting the case, and misusing funds.

State bar investigators said time after time, Ralston put his duties as speaker of the house above his clients, using what’s called legislative leave.

Ralston’s spokesman released a statement Thursday night saying the speaker “takes any charges about his professional conduct as an attorney very seriously. While he will continue to vigorously defend his professional reputation against these accusations of technical violations of State Bar rules, he will do so by continuing to fully cooperate with the investigation.”

Ralston’s spokesman released a statement Thursday night saying the speaker “takes any charges about his professional conduct as an attorney very seriously. While he will continue to vigorously defend his professional reputation against these accusations of technical violations of State Bar rules, he will do so by continuing to fully cooperate with the investigation.”

via State bar asks for investigation into House Speaker Ralston | www.wsbtv.com.