BOSTON (AP) — The highest court in Massachusetts has disbarred a former state House speaker for his conviction on a federal obstruction of justice charge.
Thomas Finneran pleaded guilty in 2007 to giving false testimony in a 2003 lawsuit over a legislative redistricting plan that diluted the clout of minority voters.
The state office that oversees lawyers argued that the Boston Democrat should lose his law license for his conviction. Finneran’s lawyer recommended a two-year suspension of his license instead.
In its ruling Monday, the Supreme Judicial Court backed a recommendation of the Board of Bar Overseers in March that the former speaker be disbarred.
Finneran resigned as speaker in 2004. Now a radio talk show host, he was sentenced to 18 months of unsupervised probation and a $25,000 fine.