Still A Candidate
An Idaho attorney has been sanctioned for ethics violations in two matters. He was given credit for time served on interim suspension.
The web page of the Idaho State Bar notes
The Disciplinary Order further provides that Bar Counsel agrees not to file any formal charges relating to four other pending disciplinary investigations until a pending federal criminal case against Mr. Bujak is completed at the trial level, either by trial or entry of a plea to any criminal charge in that case. Mr. Bujak agrees that if he is convicted of any criminal charge in the federal criminal case, he will resign his license to practice law in Idaho in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, which will encompass the four other pending disciplinary investigations. If that occurs, Mr. Bujak will receive credit for the remaining time he served on interim suspension.
Some information from the Idaho Press Tribune
Former Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney John Bujak violated four rules of the Idaho State Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct between 2004 and 2011, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled in a disciplinary order filed Sept. 24.
Idaho’s highest court further ruled that a one-year suspension of Bujak’s law license is an appropriate sanction for these violations, but since he underwent a 19-month interim suspension when the complaint was filed three years ago, the terms of the penalty are already satisfied.
That means Bujak still has seven months of suspension banked, and Idaho State Bar counsel Brad Andrews said there are additional matters still under investigation.
“It’s kind of an anomaly of how suspensions work,” Andrews said.
Bujak described it as “last chapter” of the story that began when he was charged with grand theft by unauthorized control in 3rd District Court. He agreed to give up his law license pending the resolution of that case, he said, and got it back after his acquittal.
The Idaho State Bar’s investigation and subsequent review by the Idaho Supreme Court took a bit longer to resolve, he said.
“It’s been sitting at the Supreme Court since March, presumably under review — I don’t know what took them so long review it — but this is (its) final decision accepting the stipulation between bar counsel and me,” Bujak said. “It doesn’t affect my ability to practice law. It’s just the case finally winding through the other leg of the process.”
The Idaho Supreme Court’s disciplinary order, filed with the Idaho State Bar on Sept. 24, ruled that Bujak violated ethical rules involving communication, safekeeping of property, conduct prejudicial to the amendment of justice and conflict of interest involving current clients.
The original 14-page complaint was filed against Bujak in October 2011, alleging that he’d failed to properly deposit checks intended for a client’s estate in 2008.
A second count alleged that Bujak convinced an elderly client to name himself and his assistant as beneficiaries to the client’s will. Another attorney, hired by the same elderly woman in 2011, voided the will. In her affidavit, the woman stated that Bujak convinced her that he and his assistant should be listed as beneficiaries for her protection, but that could be changed later.
Bujak was found not guilty of the associated criminal charges in January 2013.
Bujak is the Libertarian candidate for governor in the Nov. 4 general election.
(Mike Frisch)