Censure For Incidents Of Drunken Intemperance
An attorney has been censured for numerous acts of practice-related misconduct by the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Many of the violations were alcohol-related
From the letter report of the Disciplinary Review Board comes descriptions of the various incidents of misconduct, for example
In a conference room adjacent to the courtroom, he directed profanities to other attorneys gathered there, including “Who the f**k are you,” and “Don’t f**k with me.” In court before Judge Appleby, and while wearing sunglasses, respondent explained that he had “his lights knocked out” the previous evening. After the judge left the bench, respondent told the prosecutor that he was “going to the press” about his treatment that day, turning to the other attorneys in the courtroom and addressing them in a vulgar manner.
In another matter the misconduct involved a client
On July 5, 2014, while the motion was pending, respondent appeared at the client’s home, uninvited and intoxicated, and asked to be let in to use her bathroom. Once inside, distraught over an unrelated situation with his fiancee, respondent proceeded to cut his wrists, after which he was rushed to the hospital.
And
respondent appeared before the Honorable James F. Mulvihill, J.S.C. The stipulation reveals neither the client’s name nor the type of case. During that appearance, respondent told the judge, “This man has been in jail, civilly committed, for i0 years for no f**king reason,” as well as, “But to give a man i0 years back of his life, f**king pi**es me off.
Mitigation
Given respondent’s obvious efforts to turn his life around after what appears to have been a fairly brief, six-month episode, as well as the lack of any prior discipline in seventeen years at the bar, the Board determined that a censure adequately protects the public. Furthermore, respondent stipulated, and the Board requires, that he submit proof of fitness to practice law by a qualified medical doctor, and proof of attendance in an alcohol cessation program such as Alcoholics Anonymous, for the later of two years or until released from the obligation by the Court.
(Mike Frisch)