Kane supporters seek to forestall suspension of law license

HARRISBURG - Supporters of embattled Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane are mobilizing to halt a legal proceeding that could force her from office before her criminal case is resolved.

A group called Pennsylvania Citizens for Kathleen Kane has launched a petition on Change.org asking the Disciplinary Board of the state Supreme Court to pause in its effort to suspend Kane's law license as she awaits trial on charges that she illegally leaked confidential documents to a newspaper.

The group is asking the board, which oversees the conduct of lawyers across the state, to await the outcome of the criminal case against Kane before taking any action. Doing otherwise, the petition states, would violate Kane's "constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty."

"And more importantly, you will be nullifying over 3 million votes that were cast in her favor in 2012," the group wrote on the Change.org petition, signed by nearly 1,000 people.

Separately, a rally for Kane is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 10 outside the Judicial Center in Harrisburg.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the Disciplinary Board's investigative arm, has notified Kane that it is seeking an emergency suspension of her law license.

State rules allow the disciplinary agency to petition the high court for such a suspension in cases in which it believes a lawyer "is causing immediate and substantial public or private harm" by engaging in "egregious conduct."

Kane has 10 days to respond. The state Supreme Court will make the ultimate decision.

Her criminal defense lawyer, Gerald Shargel, did not return calls Monday.

Kane has retained Scranton lawyer James Mundy to represent her in the disciplinary matters, according to the Associated Press. He could not be reached for comment.

If the high court votes to suspend Kane's law license, she could be forced to leave office, as the state constitution requires the attorney general to be a member of the bar.

But there is legal debate over whether Kane would be required to step down if her license were suspended but she was not disbarred. Several lawyers suggested Monday that she could remain in the top job, carrying out administrative duties while being temporarily barred from making legal decisions.

Early last month, Kane was charged with perjury, conspiracy, official oppression and other crimes for allegedly leaking grand jury information to the Philadelphia Daily News in a bid to embarrass a critic.

Kane, the first Democrat and first woman elected attorney general, has pleaded not guilty and has vowed to remain in office while fighting the charges.

Wendy Silverwood, a Kane supporter who is helping to organize next week's rally in Harrisburg, said Monday that she believes the attorney general has been the victim of "powerful political agendas" and "a rush to judgment."

"She's performing her duties," said Silverwood, a Pennsylvania State University graduate who lives in West Chester. She believes Kane's campaign to "clean up Harrisburg" and review her predecessors' investigation of child predator Jerry Sandusky earned her powerful enemies.

Added Silverwood: "There is an election next year. We can kick her out if we don't think she's done a good job."

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