Bucyrus law director facing new drunken driving charge

Bucyrus Law Director Brian Gernert was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of drunken driving in Seneca County.

In May, the Supreme Court of Ohio issued Gernert a two-year, fully stayed suspension for ethical violations after he was involved in two other drunken driving arrests and subsequent probation violations.

Gernert was appointed as the interim law director in October 2021. He was elected to the position by Bucyrus city voters in November of 2023, after his first two convictions and professional conduct violations occurred.

In the opinion of the Supreme Court, it was stated that Gernert demonstrated a “commitment to working toward [his] sobriety.”

The court compared Gernert’s conduct to that of other attorneys and judges who had committed alcohol-related offenses. The judges noted that Gernert’s alcohol use had very little effect on his performance as an attorney. They also looked at the character letters submitted by others who were active at that time in the Bucyrus legal community before determining that suspending Gernert from practicing law was not necessary at that time to protect the public.

Gernert’s probation is in effect until November of 2025, according to the ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court. The court stated it would revoke the stay of Gernert’s disciplinary suspension and make him serve the full two-year suspension if he violated the terms of his probation again.

Gernert is scheduled to appear in Tiffin Municipal Court on Monday to be officially charged with the crime. He was booked at 11:50 p.m. Saturday at the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office jail.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Bucyrus law director facing new drunken driving charge