Incoming Law Review Editor Ousted

CHICAGO (AP) - The John Marshall Law Review ousted its incoming editor-in-chief after the student-run editorial board discovered he had served time in prison for arranging an attack on his ex-wife.

Thomas Gionis, 47, a former Los Angeles-area orthopedic surgeon and second-year student at the Chicago law school, was elected to the post in March.

But editorial board members changed their minds after learning that Gionis was convicted of hiring two men in 1989 to attack his ex-wife, Aissa Wayne, amid a custody dispute. Wayne is the daughter of actor John Wayne.

The Los Angeles Times reported at the time that Wayne had been tied up, thrown to the floor and pistol-whipped. Gionis was reportedly linked to the attack through a telephone call he made to a private investigator associated with the assailants.

Gionis was convicted of felony assault in 1992; he served 30 months in prison.

Gionis' attorney, Michael Goldberg, said Gionis disclosed all the information about his conviction when he applied to law school. He said the review board acted without authority when it voted to strip Gionis of the editorship, and Gionis may sue to retain the post.

Gionis lives in Chicago but is in California performing community service as part of an agreement to reinstate his medical license, Goldberg said.

John Corkery, associate dean for academic affairs at John Marshall, said Gionis is still a member of the review, and can run for other positions on the publication.

He said some of the board's faculty advisers did not approve of Gionis' ouster, but could not override the students.