Bar gives Renke 30-day suspension

The ex-judge agrees to the penalty for his law practice in hopes of moving on, his lawyer says.

By Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer
Published February 15, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT John Renke III lost his seat on the bench after using an illegal $95,800 campaign loan in 2002.

NEW PORT RICHEY - John Renke III has faced the wrath of many since his tainted 2002 campaign for a Pinellas-Pasco judgeship.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission went after him in 2003 for using an illegal $95,800 campaign loan and misrepresenting his qualifications and experience.

That's why the Florida Supreme Court kicked him off the bench in 2006.

Now it's the Florida Bar's turn.

Renke agreed to serve a 30-day suspension from the practice of law in a plea agreement blessed Thursday by the Florida Supreme Court.

"He'd had enough litigation," said Renke's attorney, Scott Tozian. "He wanted to get it over with and move on with his life."

Once Renke left the bench in June 2006 he became a lawyer again and fell back under the Bar's purview.

"I had hoped that the Bar wouldn't feel that it's necessary to pursue any action against him," Tozian said, "given that he suffered the ultimate penalty from the JQC."

But the Bar did, filing a complaint against Renke in October for the same violations that the Supreme Court and the JQC had weighed in on years ago.

Renke had waged a long battle with the JQC, but he decided not to fight this latest one with the Bar. He declined to comment through his attorney.

Renke is the son of former state Rep. John Renke II, who enlisted Republican Party help in his son's nonpartisan campaign. In her report, the Bar referee noted that the ex-judge expressed "remorse" for his campaign and has distanced himself from his father.

"Renke had a unique family dynamic underlying his judicial campaign," wrote Hillsborough Circuit Judge Marva Crenshaw. "(Renke) acknowledges that, in part, the problems were caused by his failure to assert more control over his professional decisions.

"Since being removed as a judge, (Renke) has declined employment at his father's law practice. (Renke) has not worked for or with his father on any matters. (Renke) has recognized the need to independently establish his own reputation."

He has 30 days to make the arrangements to temporarily shut down his practice. And that should be the end of the 2002 campaign for John Renke III.

"Lord I hope so," Tozian said, "for his sake."

Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6236.

[Last modified February 14, 2008, 23:23:06]