Drugged Driving Draws Suspension

The Iowa Supreme Court imposed a sanction for a course of criminal conduct unrelated to the practice of law

From early 2020 until mid-2021, while most Iowans were grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, an Iowa attorney fought a continuing battle against methamphetamine and opiate abuse. The attorney repeatedly violated criminal laws prohibiting possession of controlled substances, operating while intoxicated (OWI), and driving while under revocation. Eventually, in mid-2021, the attorney entered an intensive drug-treatment program pursuant to court order. Having emerged from that program, and still under a disability suspension, the attorney is now before us on an attorney disciplinary complaint. The attorney has accepted responsibility and consents to a disciplinary suspension of between one year and eighteen months. The Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission (commission) recommends a suspension of eighteen months.

On our review, we agree that all of the attorney’s criminal acts constitute ethical violations, and we order the attorney’s license suspended with no possibility of reinstatement for one year.

The court set out the history of arrests and pleas

we have little difficulty concluding that Johnson’s criminal conduct violated rule 32:8.4(b). Johnson repeatedly combined illegal drug use with driving while intoxicated and driving while under revocation. He continued to drive and use controlled substances, even when he was under court orders directing him not to do so.

(Mike Frisch)