Clean, Sober And Ready To Practice Law

An Arizona hearing officer has “without reservation” recommended the immediate reinstatement of an attorney who had been suspended for one year. The attorney had represented a defendant at a criminal trial while under the influence of cocaine and had lied about it in the ensuing post-conviction proceedings. The defendant had been granted a new trial in the criminal case.

The hearing officer found that the petitioner had been clean and sober since August 2006. He had not resorted to drug use nothwithstanding the “incredible stess” of his circumstances. Further, he has spoken to law students and lawyers about his experiences. The hearing officer also commended disciplinary counsel, who had supported the petition. (Mike Frisch)