Legal Ethics
Suspension OKd for Lawyer Who Stole Neckties
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A 90-day suspension from law practice for a former U.S. Department of Treasury lawyer who admitted stealing neckties from a store in Virginia was approved this week by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (PDF).
The lawyer, Albert Zarate, pleaded guilty to stealing neckties from a Nordstrom in December 2009. Bar authorities determined the theft wasn’t a crime of moral turpitude and negotiated a suspension, which has since been served, according to the Blog of Legal Times.
The BLT notes that Zarate, who sought mental health services for depression after the charges, was transferred to a non-attorney position at the Treasury Department.