D.C. At Its Best

An Ad Hoc District of Columbia Hearing Committee has covered itself in glory with a tightly-reasoned, thoroughly professional report finding that an attorney who had mishandled a Tax Court case and failed to cooperate in the ensuing bar investigation should be suspended and required to prove fitness for reinstatement.

He had defaulted in the bar case. That often causes a hearing committee to drag its feet worrying about possible defenses and explanations. 

Not here.

After granting Disciplinary Counsel’s default motion

The hearing on the sufficiency of the ex parte proof was held on March 27, 2018 before the Ad Hoc Hearing Committee consisting of the Chair; Trevor Mitchell, public member; and Sheila J. Carpenter, Esquire, attorney member. Disciplinary Counsel was represented by Ms. Herman. Respondent did not appear at the default hearing. At the hearing, Disciplinary Counsel did not present witness testimony but relied on documentary evidence and affidavits, exhibits DX3 through 11, which had been previously filed.

Let the chronology sink in.

The hearing committee got this report filed in seven weeks after the conclusion of the hearing.

 And that’s not all. It is an excellent analysis of the facts and law, leading to a proposed one-year and fitness suspension.

Kudos to this hearing committee. Chair Bernadette Sargeant should be promoted to the Board of Professional Responsibility as soon as possible.

Kudos also to Deputy Disciplinary Counsel Elizabeth Herman, who got this case through the first of three stages within a year. 

The case is In re Warner H. Anthony, Jr. and can be accessed here. (Mike Frisch)