Consent Censure Imposed

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has accepted a proposed public censure for a misrepresentation in obtaining a restraining order for a client

In this disciplinary matter, the Hearing Committee recommends approval of an amended petition for negotiated attorney discipline. See D.C. Bar R. XI, § 12.1(c). Respondent Alisha E. Gordon voluntarily acknowledged that, in connection with securing a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) on behalf of a client, she (1) misrepresented to the court that she had notified the opposing parties of the TRO hearing and (2) failed to subsequently correct the misrepresentation at opposing counsel’s request. As a result, respondent admits that she knowingly made a false statement of fact to a tribunal and failed to correct it in violation of D.C. R. Pro. Conduct 3.3(a). Respondent further admits that she thereby also engaged in conduct involving dishonesty or misrepresentation that seriously interfered with the administration of justice in violation of D.C. R. Pro. Conduct 8.4(c)-(d). The proposed discipline consists of a public censure and six hours of continuing legal education courses preapproved by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

Having reviewed the Committee’s recommendation in accordance with our procedures in uncontested disciplinary cases, see D.C. Bar R. XI, § 12.1(d), we agree that this case is appropriate for negotiated discipline and that “the agreed-upon sanction is ‘justified,’” In re Mensah, 262 A.3d 1100, 1104 (D.C. 2021) (per curiam) (quoting D.C. Bar R. XI, § 12.1(c)(3)), in light of reasonably analogous precedents.

(Mike Frisch)