The Shame Of Disbarment

The Hawai’i Supreme Court disbarred an attorney who has been suspended since 2001. The court concluded that disbarment was appropriate for extensive misconduct including misappropriation of client funds notwithstanding findings of significant mitigation: “[the attorney] has experienced past suffering, shame, and humiliation by virtue of his imprisonment…has expressed extreme remorse, and has demonstrated candor and a cooperative attitude toward these proceedings. {The attorney] also had good character and reputation prior to his ice addiction, and has taken steps toward rehabilitation, and there has been a lengthy passage of time since his misconduct and the completion of this disciplinary proceeding.”

The link is to the court’s opinion web page. The case is ODC v. LePage, decided October 2, 2007. (Mike Frisch)