Lawyer Discipline

Afternoon Briefs: Nursing home executives fined $400 daily; did black nationalism influence Justice Thomas?

New book seeks to explain conservatism of Justice Clarence Thomas A new book called The Enigma of Clarence Thomas contends that the justice’s conservatism is shaped by his immersion in black nationalism in the 1960s and 1970s. Author Corey Robin sees parallels between the movement and Thomas’ dedication to achievement…

Sep 24, 2019 3:11 PM CDT

Lawyer accused of smelling of alcohol at client’s felony trial gets suspension

An Ohio lawyer has been suspended after he was accused of showing up for a client’s felony trial smelling of alcohol and refusing to submit to a breath-alcohol test.

Sep 24, 2019 10:17 AM CDT

Former immigration judge is disciplined for criticizing GOP policy at deportation hearing

A retired immigration judge has been fined $1,000 and barred from federal service for 30 months for criticizing Republican immigration policy while on the bench.

Sep 18, 2019 10:50 AM CDT

Lawyer who sued Trump business associate is suspended for ‘campaign to extort a settlement’ and judicial insults

A New York lawyer has received a one-year suspension for allegedly trying to “extort” a settlement using improperly obtained materials in a suit against a former business associate of Donald Trump.

Sep 18, 2019 10:21 AM CDT

Judge who posted noose photo on Facebook resigns and agrees to never again seek judicial office

Updated: A town justice in New York has resigned and agreed to never again seek judicial office after he posted a picture of a noose on Facebook to make a point about the need for harsh punishment.

Sep 17, 2019 11:37 AM CDT

Lawyer suspended for pocketing fees intended for law firm; court warns of tougher future penalties

A Cedar Rapids, Iowa, lawyer has been suspended for four months for keeping fees from clients that should have been split with his law firm.

Sep 17, 2019 10:04 AM CDT

Longtime municipal judge is charged with grabbing woman’s breasts at his law office

A municipal court judge in New Jersey has been charged with fourth-degree sexual contact for allegedly grabbing a woman’s breasts when she was at his law office.

Sep 16, 2019 4:43 PM CDT

14 ways to discuss diversity in your law firm

Dallas lawyer Sara E. Inman has seen the topic of race make even the most confident attorneys squirm. A law firm cannot reach the goal of diversifying if attorneys in the office are uncomfortable talking about diversity past the surface level.

Sep 12, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Lawyer reprimanded for discriminatory statements about Chinese optometrist

A New Jersey lawyer was reprimanded Friday for demeaning and discriminatory statements about the Chinese culture in a letter to a medical malpractice defendant.

Sep 9, 2019 10:36 AM CDT

How lawyers can be more mindful and embrace their spirituality

Lawyers have to be aware of how their philosophy—no matter what it is—affects their lives and the lives of others, says lawyer James Gray Robinson. The core of the mindfulness philosophy is the concept of awareness. It is critical to a well-lived life.

Aug 29, 2019 10:14 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Once-high-profile lawyer disbarred; prescription diet cat food lawsuit reinstated

Lawyer who represented Oklahoma City bomber is disbarred A Colorado lawyer who once represented Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh has been disbarred at age 77. Dennis Hartley’s misconduct included converting client funds, disobeying a prior suspension order and failing to report drunken driving and impaired driving convictions. A lawyer who…

Aug 22, 2019 4:02 PM CDT

Readers respond to conservative student’s perspective on controversial ‘MAGA’ hat column

The ABA Journal’s Aug. 7 Your Voice piece, “Conservative student says law school biases infringe on his right to free speech,” by Gonzaga University School of Law student Austin Phelps, has kept the conversation going after lively responses to Gonzaga Professor Jeffrey Omari’s first column on free speech, racism and…

Aug 22, 2019 2:00 PM CDT

Judge was too quick to find contempt and too slow to write opinions, ethics complaint says

An ethics complaint filed Tuesday against a Philadelphia family court judge claims that the judge was too quick to fine or jail people for contempt but too slow to write opinions in cases involving child abuse and neglect. The ethics complaint against Judge Lyris Younge was filed after state appeals…

Aug 22, 2019 1:01 PM CDT

2 former prosecutors suspended for failing to report suspect’s beating

Two former prosecutors with the St. Louis circuit attorney’s office have been suspended from law practice for failing to immediately report a detective’s beating of a suspect. The Missouri Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Ambry Nichole Schuessler and Katherine Anne Dierdorf on Tuesday. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has coverage, while the…

Aug 15, 2019 3:06 PM CDT

Former Ohio judge who wrongly defined rape, made demeaning comments gets suspension

A former Ohio judge has been suspended from law practice for a range of misconduct that included failing to follow precedent when he ruled that a defendant had not committed rape because he didn’t penetrate the victim far enough. The Ohio Supreme Court suspended former Judge James Burge of Lorain…

Aug 14, 2019 3:15 PM CDT