A Lesser Sanction

The Rhode Island Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline of an attorney based on sanctions imposed by federal district and bankruptcy courts.

The court reduced the sanction from a two-year to a 60-day suspension.

The respondent has been a member of the bar in this state since 2002. She has no prior record of professional discipline. Her misconduct before the Bankruptcy Court warranted the imposition of discipline, and the two-year suspension from the practice of law in the Bankruptcy and District Courts is appropriate. However, we are of the opinion that the imposition of a twoyear suspension in our state courts as well would be an unduly harsh sanction.

The purposes of professional discipline are twofold: protection of the public and maintaining the integrity of the profession. In re McBurney, 13 A.3d 654, 655 (R.I. 2011)(mem.). We are satisfied that those two purposes can be served in this matter by imposing a sixty-day suspension from the practice of law in our state courts. Accordingly, we suspend the respondent from the practice of law for a period of sixty days, commencing thirty days from the date of this order.

The court took the same action with respect to the attorney’s law partner, who already was suspended for other misconduct. (Mike Frisch)