Reprimand For Misuse Of Criminal Justice Information

A bar discipline summary of a public reprimand from the web page of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers

The respondent was admitted to the bar of the Commonwealth on June 16, 2004. He was also employed as a Massachusetts State Trooper and permitted to engage in outside employment as a private attorney in noncriminal matters, subject to certain conditions. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6, §172(a)(1), the respondent was authorized to request and obtain electronic Criminal Offender Record Information and information from Criminal Justice Information Services (CORI/CJIS) for the performance of his criminal justice duties. Dissemination of CORI/CJIS is prohibited by statute,  subject to few exceptions. M.G.L. c. 6, §172.

Throughout 2015, the respondent improperly requested and obtained CORI/CJIS information in connection with domestic relations cases he was handling in his private legal practice and not for legitimate law enforcement purposes from a computer terminal located at the State Police barracks. In three separate cases, the respondent improperly requested and obtained CORI/CJIS information and in two of those cases, improperly disseminated that information. The respondent’s conduct in these instances violated M.G.L. c. 6, §172.

By improperly obtaining and disseminating CORI/CJIS information on multiple occasions while acting as counsel in domestic relations matters, the respondent violated Mass. R. Prof. C. 4.4(a) and 8.4(d).

(Mike Frisch)