Disbarment For 1st Degree Murder

An order was entered by the Presiding Disciplinary Judge in Colorado disbarring an attorney as a result of her conviction in California for 1st degree murder. The deceased was the husband of the attorney. He had been shot 10 times with a shotgun. Although the attorney is presently incarcerated, she was offered the opportunity to participate in the disciplinary hearing by telephone but did not do so. The court considered a letter that she had submitted that contended that the shooting was not intentional. However, the court determined that full faith and credit to the California criminal conviction required that disbarment be imposed. (Mike Frisch)