'I fought the Bar and the Bar won,' says lawyer announcing his retirement from Ky. legal practice
A Kentucky attorney who has been a magnet for bar discipline says he has decided to retire from the practice of law in that state rather than fight to stay in good standing.
“I am blessed that I don’t need to practice law in Kentucky and I have decided that no matter how many times I fight them and win, I’m bound to lose in the end,” said Eric Deters in a statement he emailed Monday to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “When I consider the stress, time and effort to fight them balanced against retirement, retirement makes the most sense.”
Deters will continue to practice law in Ohio, and other lawyers in his firm who are admitted to practice in Kentucky will handle Kentucky-based cases, the newspaper notes.
He served suspensions in Kentucky in 2012 and 2013, at least one of which also resulted in a 60-day reciprocal suspension in Ohio, according to an earlier Enquirer article. Now that he is no longer a lawyer in the state, all such proceedings are concluded. News of his retirement comes shortly before a scheduled conference to discuss his reinstatement application with the Kentucky Supreme Court’s disciplinary committee.
“The reason I have retired is that I quite simply no longer want to practice law in a state where its governing body, the KBA (Kentucky Bar Association), is on a continuous mission to ‘get’ me,” wrote Deters, adding: “I fought the Bar and the Bar won.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Lawyer in ‘Invidious Personal Vendetta’ Ordered to Pay Prosecutors’ Defense Costs”
ABAJournal.com: “As Federal Judge Blasts His ‘Ready, Fire, Aim’ Tactics, Embattled Lawyer Counts His Blessings”
Associated Press: “Ky. attorney Deters suspended for 61 days”
Scripps Media: “Eric Deters: Attorney draws 60-day suspension in Ohio”
