Demeaning And Derogatory

The Nebraska Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline based on sanctions imposed in Arizona.

We grant the motion for reciprocal discipline and impose a suspension of 6 months and 1 day.

The web page of the Arizona Bar has a summary of the original proceedings

By judgment and order dated February 7, 2020, the Presiding Disciplinary Judge accepted an agreement for discipline by consent by which Courtney Josephine Vernon, Gilbert, was suspended for six months and one day effective March 9, 2020. Ms. Vernon was assessed $1,245.58 in costs.

In February 2017 Ms. Vernon was arrested in Arizona on trespass charges after harassing customers and refusing to leave an indoor amusement park in Arizona. She pled guilty to Criminal Trespass Second Degree, a class 2 misdemeanor. When arrested Ms. Vernon was intoxicated and made demeaning and derogatory comments to law enforcement.

In December 2017 Ms. Vernon was arrested in Iowa and pled guilty to public intoxication and assault. Like her Arizona case she made demeaning and derogatory comments to law enforcement when arrested.

On June 25, 2019, Ms. Vernon was arrested for disorderly conduct in Arizona. At the time of the arrest she announced to law enforcement that she was a lawyer, threatened officers that they would be fired, and made racially insensitive and demeaning comments to the officers. Ms. Vernon was intoxicated at the time of the arrest.

The only aggravating factor was pattern of misconduct. Mitigating factors were absence of disciplinary history and cooperative attitude towards the proceedings. Ms. Vernon violated Rule 42, Ariz. R. Sup. Ct., ER 8.4(b), and Rule 41(g), Ariz. R. Sup. Ct.

(Mike Frisch)