Law license of former DA Jaconi suspended By Kevin Boneske For The News-Chronicle Former Kewaunee County District Attorney Jevon Jaconi won't be able to practice law in Wisconsin for at least another year. An order issued Friday by the state Supreme Court has suspended Jaconi's law license through Nov. 7. The action was the result of a complaint filed by the state Office of Lawyer Regulation alleging 20 counts of misconduct against Jaconi. In addition to the suspension of his law license, the court's order directs Jaconi to refund money to clients and an individual who paid a portion of his fees. The order requires him to pay three people a total of $875 within 60 days. The court order also notes that Jaconi, who was admitted to practice law in Wisconsin in 1998, had his law license administratively suspended on June 3 for failing to comply with mandatory training requirements. Jaconi had been elected district attorney in 1998 after defeating the then-incumbent, Jackson Main, in the Democratic primary. However, Jaconi decided not to seek re-election to a second two-year term in 2000 after filing his nomination papers too late to be placed on the primary ballot. Although Jaconi's suspension ends next November, Office of Lawyer Regulation director Keith Sellen said Jaconi won't automatically be allowed to practice law again after that date. There would have to be an investigation and a public hearing before Jaconi could be reinstated, he said. The counts against Jaconi involved his representation of seven separate clients. He stipulated to the acts of misconduct with a "personal statement," in which he acknowledged he was elected district attorney immediately upon his graduation from the University of Dayton Law School and his successful completion of the Wisconsin bar exam. After leaving office, he opened his own law practice. The charges against Jaconi involve misconduct after he left the district attorney's office. The allegations against Jaconi are: - Jaconi incorrectly advised a female client, who hired him in August 2001, that she did not have to appear on a felony matter in Brown County Circuit Court. When neither Jaconi nor the client appeared for her adjourned initial appearance, a bench warrant was issued for her arrest. She later requested Jaconi return her file and refund the $600 fee she had paid. However, she was unable to cash the $600 check Jaconi gave her because there were insufficient funds in his office account to cover it. - Jaconi did not promptly contact a female client he represented in municipal court in De Pere in a drunken driving case. By failing to adequately explain the plea options to her, he failed to permit her to make an informed decision regarding his representation. By failing to abide by her decision not to plead no contest to an operating while intoxicated charge, Jaconi failed to abide by the client's decisions concerning the objectives of representation. - Jaconi did not commence a divorce action on behalf of a client over six months. By failing to respond to the client's phone calls and otherwise contact the client after two initial meetings, and by failing to accept a certified letter, Jaconi did not keep the client reasonably informed. He failed to return the client's money and materials related to a malpractice claim. - Jaconi failed to have sufficient funds in his law office account to cover the $800 refund check he issued to a female client he represented in a divorce action. By issuing a check he knew couldn't be cashed, Jaconi "engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation." - Jaconi did not prepare for a trial for a felony criminal matter in Brown County Circuit Court in a case for a male client appointed to him by the state public defender. Jaconi instead pursued a plea agreement with the district attorney when the client indicated that he wanted to go to trial. - Jaconi failed to appear at several court dates and did not to file and serve necessary amended legal documents in a matter involving an auto dealer. By not responding to the client's numerous telephone and written inquiries, Jaconi failed to keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter. - Jaconi did not appear on the plea date when he represented two clients about one's alleged use of the other's hunting license. He also failed to contact his clients between Jan. 8, 2002, and the trial on June 21, 2002.