Resignation Means Disbarment

The Kansas Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney who had surrendered his license while a bar complaint was pending 

At the time the respondent surrendered his license, a complaint had been docketed by the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator for investigation. The complaint alleged that the respondent violated Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7 (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 531) (conflict of interest) and 8.4 (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 680) (misconduct).

We reported on a prior disciplinary action involving the attorney’s misconduct as a pro tem judge

The Kansas Supreme Court has suspended a judge pro tem for one year who engaged in sex-related misconduct toward court personnel. The misconduct involved inappropriate remarks and notes (“I want to lick your butt”and “You’re hot”), exposing his genitals to one employee and rubbing them in front of another, and sending a digital photograph of his penis from his mobile phone to still another court employee.

Five employees were victims of the behavior. One reported to another judge that the respondent had assisted her with a ticket and asked her what she could do in return. The respondent self-reported to disciplinary counsel shortly before the other judge did so.

The court considered evidence regarding the respondent’s mental state and expressed the view that his course of treatment for major depression would be pertinent to his reinstatement. 

The ABA Journal reported his claim that the earlier misconduct was attributable to testosterone medication.

There is no indication whether he is related to the famed attorney of the same name. (Mike Frisch)