A well-known Lawrence attorney declined comment Friday after the Kansas Supreme Court called him a “loose cannon” and ordered a one-year suspension of his law license.

“I really don’t have anything to say,” said Jim Rumsey, a former candidate for Douglas County district attorney and a defense attorney known for his criminal-law expertise during a 25-year career.

The suspension stems from two separate complaints filed by clients Rumsey represented in the late 1990s. One case was a divorce; the other involved an on-the-job injury.

Rumsey admitted that while handling the cases he violated a number of professional-conduct rules — for example, mingling an unearned advance fee with his personal money and failing to keep the injured woman and her family informed about the status of her case.

But he had denied more serious allegations — for example, that he tried to generate more fees by telling a client in the divorce case that the case had to be filed in Leavenworth County. The court found Rumsey acted selfishly and “deceived” the woman about the need to file the case in Leavenworth County.

According to the ruling, Rumsey’s punishment might have been lighter had he not received five prior disciplinary actions from the state.

“We are particularly concerned about Rumsey’s baffling inability to comprehend and follow the KRPC (Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct) … or his shocking indifference to them as shown by his repeated violations,” the court wrote.

In handing out the punishment, the court accepted the recommendation of Phillip D. Ridenhour, chairman of a disciplinary panel that investigated the complaints.

¢ Attorney makes case to court against suspension of license (5-30-03)¢ Attorney faces court sanctions (5-22-03)

“We agree with Chairman Ridenhour when he stated that Rumsey is a ‘loose cannon’ who ‘alternately ignores and then pushes around his clients, commingles clients’ funds with his own, and fails to advise clients when he has terminated his representation of them.'”

During a May hearing, Rumsey told the court that at the time of the cases in question, his wife was undergoing chemotherapy treatments. He also has said that many clients in criminal cases had benefited from his work.

In 1991, Rumsey sought the Douglas County district attorney post as a Republican, when former Dist. Atty. Jim Flory left office for another job.

The Douglas County Central Republican Committee met to decide who would fill Flory’s unexpired term. Rumsey lost in that vote to Jerry Wells.

In 1992, Rumsey switched parties to run as a Democrat against Republican Wells and lost.

In 1996, Rumsey ran as a Democrat against Dan Owen in the Democratic primary and lost. Owen then lost to current Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney.