From Stricken To Disbarred

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney who accepted a fee while unlicensed leading to a felony conviction

Janzen’s license to practice law had been stricken from the membership rolls since September 20, 2004. Almost eight years later, she knowingly misrepresented herself as a licensed attorney in order to obtain money under false pretenses for legal representation. Janzen’s criminal conduct was intentional and moreover, she used her prior attorney licensure status in creating this deception. Her actions resulted in a gross breach of trust and serious interference with the administration of justice. Janzen’s plea to a felony involving intentional dishonesty regarding her licensure status for personal gain facially demonstrates her unfitness to practice law and her blatant disregard for the Bar and this Court. Janzen has not filed any response to this summary proceeding and has not provided any evidence to support the mitigation of the severity of discipline in this matter. The Bar Association has recommended disbarment. We hold that the appropriate discipline for Janzen’s conviction is disbarment. It is the order of this Court that Janzen’s disbarment is to be effective from the date of her suspension from the practice of law, March 27, 2020.

( Mike Frisch)