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High court reprimands Ashland lawyer By CHRIS BRISTOL SALEM -- The Oregon Supreme Court chose to reprimand rather than suspend a veteran Ashland attorney for ethical misconduct. In a decision issued Dec. 16, the high court reprimanded Thomas C. Howser for violating conflict-of-interest bar rules involving a former client. In addition, he was ordered to pay almost $800 in court costs associated with the case. A reprimand is the mildest sanction the court can impose against an attorney. Disbarment is the most severe. The court's ruling upheld a decision made by a disciplinary trial panel of the Oregon State Bar. The quasi-public agency licenses and regulates 13,000 lawyers in Oregon and administers the state's system of lawyer discipline. According to court and bar records, Howser was accused of representing a woman in a 1994 loan dispute involving her son and a former client of Howser's, which gave him unethical access to confidential will information. Howser did not withdraw from the case until 1996 -- almost two years after his former client's attorney asked him to, the court said. He also ignored similar advice from bar counsel. In its decision, the Supreme Court discussed two sanctions: suspension or reprimand. The court decided on the lesser sanction, citing mitigating factors including Howser's exemplary service to the bar and clean record. In addition, the court said, the case indicated "the accused acted without a selfish or dishonest motive." Howser, whose former associates include a sitting Jackson County judge, did not return a phone call Tuesday seeking comment. His secretary said he was in court. Howser was the sixth attorney from the Rogue Valley to be disciplined by the bar this year. Sanctions in the other cases ranged from suspension to disbarment. Among them was Medford attorney Sandra Sawyer, who was suspended by the bar for nine months for client-conflict misconduct. Her case remains on hold, pending a Supreme Court review. The bar also cleared Medford attorney Daniel Kellington of all charges involving a business client who turned out to be a federal drug-smuggling fugitive. A federal jury convicted Kellington on criminal charges in the case, but the trial judge tossed out the verdict. A federal appeals court is now considering whether Kellington should get a new trial or go to prison. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA