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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ETHICS COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HONORED
BY CAPITAL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL

Ohio Ethics Commission Executive Director, David E. Freel, was honored Friday by Capital University's Law School as this year's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. The award recognizes alumni for their significant achievements in the legal field and notable contributions to the profession, community and Law School. Immediate past recipients of this honor include Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and United States District Court Judge Michael Watson.

Freel, a 1977 graduate of the Law School, is internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of ethics. In September 2007, the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL), an international organization of ethics agencies and professionals, awarded Freel its highest honor, the COGEL Award, recognizing him for his command of governmental ethics, his commitment to excellence, and extensive support to ethics colleagues and the public throughout the United States and Canada. He is a past President of COGEL and was also honored with the COGEL Service Award in 2002.

Director Freel has been the Executive Director of the Ohio Ethics Commission since 1994 where he supervises a staff of twenty-three and oversees the day-to-day responsibilities of the Commission. He has written articles on Ohio's Ethics Law and given ethics presentations at seminars and conferences throughout the United States and Canada.

"Capital University Law School's recognition means a great deal to me," Freel stated. "To be honored by an academic institution that has done so much for the legal profession and our community is a recognition I will always cherish."

Ohio Ethics Commission Chair Ann Marie Tracey added, "David Freel has provided extraordinary leadership in the field of public ethics both in Ohio and nationally. He truly deserves this award."

Before joining the Ethics Commission staff, Director Freel was a faculty member of The Ohio State University College of Law Clinical Programs and a trial attorney with the Franklin County Public Defender's Office. He has served on the Governor's Council on Juvenile Justice, is a past president and board member of Maryhaven, Inc., and a past president and board member of Youth Advocate Services. Freel resides in Worthington with his wife, Karen.

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