Curriculum Vitae:

• The Lefton Group, LLC (March 2014 – present)
• Principal, Smith and Son Law, LLC (2013 – present)
• Chief of the Portage County Public Defender’s Office (present)

Professional Experience:

• Adjunct faculty, School of Journalism, September 1983–May 1985, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
• Professor of Journalism, August 1986 – 2012 , Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
• Law Clerk, January –June 1991, Ohio Supreme Court, Justice Craig Wright (professional leave).
• Interim director, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, July 1, 1991– June 30, 1994, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
• Graduate coordinator, September 2008–June 2009, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.

News Media – Akron Beacon Journal: (1967 – 1986)

Career Highlights:

• Brief Amicus Curiae, State, ex rel. Beacon Journal v. Bond, submitted December 2001, Ohio Supreme Court.
• Brief Amicus Curiae, State, ex rel. Stys v. Parma Community General Hospital, 93 Ohio St. 3d 438, (decided October 17, 2001).
• Brief Amicus Curiae, State, ex rel. Fostoria Daily Review Company v. Fostoria Hospital Association, et al., Case No. 87 102, filed March 17, 1987, on behalf of Common Cause/Ohio, Ohio Supreme Court.
• Served as an expert witness in 16 libel suits.
• Chair of the Media Law Center until 2012.
• Member of APME and AEJMC and the Research Journal until 2012.
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Education & Admission to Practice:

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
• Master of Arts (M.A.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.), University of Akron School of Law.

Professional Awards / Affiliations:

• Member, American Bar Association (1977 – present).
• Teaching Standards chairman, Newspaper Division (1989 – 1990).
• Trustee, Ohio Coalition for Open Government (1992 – 1996).
• Member, National Freedom of Information Coalition (1993 – present).
• Distinguished Teaching Award from Kent State’s Alumni Association (2000).
• American Society of Newspaper Editors Excellence in Journalism from the Society for Professional Journalists, Buckeye Chapter (1996).
• Member, Associated Press Managing Editors (1986 – 2012).
• Member, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (1989 – 2012).
• Member, Editorial Board, Newspaper Research Journal (1989 – 2012).

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 330-283-4676