Practice Pointer: Don’t Show Up For Your Disciplinary Hearing In Shorts, T-Shirt And Running Shoes

An attorney who previously served as general counsel to the Department of Corrections was suspended for three years by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

The charges arose from the attorney’s romantic relationships with two incarcerated women. He admitted that he had a relationship with one (J.L.) prior to her incarceration and that he intended to wed the other (K.A.), who he described as “a very attractive woman.”

The attorney was found culpable of four violations that were not alleged in the original charges.

The court squarely rejected his claim that his due process rights were violated as a result. The attorney had denied that the women were his clients and “repeatedly gave misleading statements ” in the disciplinary proceeding.

The court noted that the attorney had appeared for the disciplinary hearing in shorts, a t-shirt and running shoes. He stayed for two witnesses and then voluntarily absented himself from the proceeding. 

Those really were running shoes. (Mike Frisch)