43 results for 'cat:"Judiciary" AND cat:"Attorney Discipline"'.
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court disbars attorney James W. Davis III for intercepting a $3 million payment from an insurance company to a policy holder. The insurer received false wiring instructions directing it to send the funds to the attorney's trust account. The attorney converted his clients' property when he included some client funds from his trust account to partially reimburse the insurer.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: May 14, 2024, Case #: S23Y0622, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Supreme Court of Colorado finds former Arapahoe County District Court Judge John E. Scipione will be publicly sanctioned and required to pay attorney fees for disciplinary proceedings related to his violation of eight judicial conduct rules. Scipione used his position as a judge to seek intimate relationships with subordinate employees on at least three occasions, sexually harassed at least one employee, and failed to disclose intimate relationships with former law clerks and other personnel. While his resignation ensures he will commit no further misconduct, he will also be required to pay $51,000 in attorney fees. Affirmed.
Court: Colorado Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: May 6, 2024, Case #: 2024CO23, Categories: judiciary, Attorney Fees, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court rejects attorney Paul Jason York's petition for voluntary discipline following his admission to violating the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney forged the signatures of a judge and an assistant district attorney on a court order purportedly authorizing the removal of his client's ankle monitor. The special master's recommendation that the attorney receive a three-year suspension is not appropriate. The attorney's criminal forgery charges remain pending and his pre-trial diversion agreement does not expire until at least August 2025.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: April 16, 2024, Case #: S24Y0285, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court grants attorney Joel David Myers's application for certification of fitness to practice law and orders that he may be readmitted as an attorney licensed to practice law. The attorney was previously disbarred for violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney was suffering from undiagnosed severe depression, has taken responsibility for his actions and has demonstrated rehabilitation.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: March 19, 2024, Case #: S24Z0598, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court accepts attorney Shaquandra A. Woods's petition for voluntary interim suspension of her license pending the outcome of an appeal of her conspiracy to commit wire fraud conviction. The conviction violates the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: March 5, 2024, Case #: S24Y0566, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
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Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court disbars attorney Andrea Jo Anne David-Vega for her multiple violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct during her representation of a client in a personal injury claim. The attorney failed to file an action on the client's behalf before the expiration of the two-year statute of limitation and failed to provide him with requested files. The attorney admitted to fabricating a text message and an e-mail supposedly sent from the client terminating the attorney's representation.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: March 5, 2024, Case #: S24Y0099, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court rejects the review board's recommendation of a six-month suspension and disbars attorney Deirdre Maria Stephens for her violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney made multiple intentionally false statements with respect to the funds in her trust account.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: February 20, 2024, Case #: S24Y0049, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court suspends attorney Cheryl Joyce Braziel from the practice of law in Georgia for two years for violating the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct during negotiations with lienholders in settling a personal injury case. The attorney failed to timely notify a hospital and the Texas attorney general of her receipt of settlement funds and failed to promptly satisfy the negotiated liens. The attorney's reinstatement is conditioned on her participation in the state bar's law practice management program.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: February 20, 2024, Case #: S24Y0267, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
J. Kennedy finds that Marion County Common Pleas Court Judge Jason Warner will be indefinitely suspended from the practice of law for felony convictions related to a hit-and-run car accident that occurred after he and his wife left a party where they had been drinking alcohol. Although Warner was not the driver of the car, he left the scene and waited more than nine hours to call law enforcement, but because the misconduct was not committed in his judicial capacity, he will be suspended and not disbarred.
Court: Ohio Supreme Court, Judge: Kennedy, Filed On: February 16, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-551, Categories: judiciary, Sanctions, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court accepts attorney Coulter Clauzell Henry, Jr.'s petition for voluntary discipline following his admitted violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney falsely told a client that his patent application had been filed, instead filing it more than three months later. The attorney showed remorse and refunded the client's legal fee. The attorney will receive a public reprimand.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: February 6, 2024, Case #: S24Y0195, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
[Consolidated.] Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court disbars attorney Timothy Orman McCalep for his multiple violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney abandoned six clients, made misrepresentations when questioned about his abandonment and refused to issue refunds.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: February 6, 2024, Case #: S23Y0919, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court accepts attorney Sharon L. Barksdale's petition for voluntary discipline and directs that the attorney receive a public reprimand for her admitted violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney failed to tell her client that she did not prepare or submit a proposed order in a child custody modification case.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: January 17, 2024, Case #: S24Y0016, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court rejects the report from the review board saying that the special master's recommendation suspending attorney Christopher Ryan Breault for one month for his violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct be adopted. The attorney failed to timely withdraw from a personal injury matter after being fired by the client and disclosed confidential information in response to two motions to revoke his pro hac vice status. The special master failed to properly analyze the attorney's conduct under the American Bar Association's standards for imposing lawyer sanctions. The case is remanded back to the review board with instructions to remand to a special master.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: January 17, 2024, Case #: S23Y0807, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
[Consolidated.] Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court disbars attorney Derric Crowther for his multiple violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The review board's recommendation of a four-year suspension is rejected. The attorney violated trust accounting rules and failed to resolve a dispute with a client over settlement funds. The attorney charged the client excessive fees and disbursed the settlement funds to himself or his law firm.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: January 17, 2024, Case #: S23Y1117, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
J. Kennedy finds Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Daniel Gaul will be suspended from the practice of law and his judicial office, without pay, for one year for coercing plea deals out of several defendants, improperly questioning numerous defendants during their trials, and making demeaning comments to various defendants. Although Gaul did not engage in the misconduct to further his own interests, he repeatedly refused to admit the wrongful nature of his conduct and has a prior disciplinary record, which requires the court to impose a suspension that will not be stayed in any way.
Court: Ohio Supreme Court, Judge: Kennedy, Filed On: December 29, 2023, Case #: 2023-Ohio-4751, Categories: judiciary, Sanctions, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court accepts attorney Steven Ryan Webster's voluntary surrender of his license to practice law. The attorney admitted to violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct arising from multiple actions including his failure to return money he received as the closing attorney for a property sale that was eventually terminated. The attorney also failed to disburse funds owed to a title company and failed to remit premiums during his time as a title insurance agent.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: December 19, 2023, Case #: S24Y0019, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court accepts attorney Ashutosh S. Joshi's voluntary surrender of his license to practice law for his admitted violation of one of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney knew that his client's co-conspirator was represented by another attorney at the time he met with the co-conspirator in jail without permission. The attorney is alleged to have misrepresented to jail staff that he was the attorney for the co-conspirator but he has not admitted to that misconduct and the allegation has not been resolved. Even if the attorney were found to have committed additional violations of the rules, the maximum sanction against him would be no greater than the surrender of his law license.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: December 19, 2023, Case #: S23Y0975, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
J. Donnelly finds that former Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter will be indefinitely suspended from the practice of law for a felony conviction that stemmed from her conduct as a judge, which included allowing social, political and family interests to influence her actions. Hunter sent a letter to the corrections facility that employed her brother and requested various documents while he was being investigated for misconduct and she was eventually convicted of a single charge of unlawful interest in a public contract. Although she had no prior disciplinary record, she refused to acknowledge the wrongful nature of her conduct and must be suspended indefinitely.
Court: Ohio Supreme Court, Judge: Donnelly, Filed On: November 21, 2023, Case #: 2023-Ohio-4168, Categories: judiciary, Sanctions, attorney Discipline
J. Murguia dismisses a pro se litigant's complaint of judicial misconduct against a district judge. Review of this complaint is governed by the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings. The names of the complainant and the subject judge are not be disclosed in this order. This misconduct complaint arises out of an attorney disciplinary matter. Because complainant provides no objectively verifiable evidence of misconduct in this matter, the allegation must be dismissed.
Court: 9th Circuit, Judge: Murguia, Filed On: November 15, 2023, Case #: 22-90006, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court accepts attorney Tamorra A. Boyd's petition for voluntary discipline and directs that a public reprimand be administered to her in open court for her admitted violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney's conduct during her time as an employee of a California firm purporting to help homeowners seek solutions to mortgage issues was negligent but her motives were not selfish or dishonest.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: November 7, 2023, Case #: S22Y0940, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court suspends attorney W. McCall Calhoun, Jr. from the practice of law pending the outcome of his 11th Circuit appeal of his convictions related to his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol. The attorney was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding before Congress, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and demonstrating in a Capitol building. The convictions include a felony and several misdemeanors. The findings of guilt occurred at a bench trial and constitute verdicts.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: November 7, 2023, Case #: S23Y1160, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court rejects the special master's recommendation of disbarment and instead suspends attorney Walter Douglas Adams for one year for his violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney failed to properly communicate with his client about a settlement, failed to put a contingency fee in writing and charged an unreasonable fee for obtaining the settlement.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: November 7, 2023, Case #: S23Y0437, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court accepts attorney Carl Lawrence Collins's petition for a voluntary interim suspension of his license to practice law pending the outcome of an appeal of his criminal convictions for making a false tax return. The attorney's convictions constitute violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: November 7, 2023, Case #: S23Y1064, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court accepts attorney Cory Howerton Fleming's voluntary surrender of his license to practice law following his admitted violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct while representing a client in South Carolina. The attorney admitted that he engaged in a scheme with former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh to allow Murdaugh to receive wrongful death insurance settlement funds arising from the attorney's representation of the estate of a long-time Murdaugh employee who sustained injuries at his home. The attorney admitted that a disbursement sheet prepared after a second settlement contained false statements.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: November 7, 2023, Case #: S23Y0970, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Oklahoma Supreme Court approves District Judge Timothy Henderson’s resignation from the Oklahoma Bar pending disciplinary proceedings after he was charged for having undisclosed sexual relationships with two assistant district attorneys who prosecuted criminal cases in his court. The judge has complied with all rules and has not been subject to coercion or duress.
Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: November 6, 2023, Case #: SCBD-7527, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court rejects the special master's and review board's recommendations and refuses to impose discipline on attorney Marsha Williams Mignott for her alleged violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney was accused of learning information from an individual who never became her client and then revealing that information in a later proceeding adverse to that individual. The attorney never formed an attorney-client relationship with the individual and therefore did not violate the rules. The rules at the time of the alleged misconduct applied only to clients and former clients, not former prospective clients.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: October 24, 2023, Case #: S23Y0974, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court rejects the notice of discipline, seeking a public reprimand for attorney David Carleton Head based on his abandonment of a client. The Bar failed to describe the three instances of prior discipline received by the attorney which are cited as aggravating factors in the notice.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: October 11, 2023, Case #: S23Y0635, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline
[Consolidated.] Per curiam, the Georgia Supreme Court disbars attorney Ryan Curtis Cleveland for his violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct based on his misconduct in the representation and abandonment of eight clients. The attorney failed to communicate with incarcerated clients, failed to file pleadings or motions for bond in the clients' cases and repeatedly misled one client and his family about the status of his case.
Court: Georgia Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: October 11, 2023, Case #: S23Y0688, Categories: judiciary, attorney Discipline