Conviction Draws Disbarment

The Georgia Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney for a felony conviction

The record shows that in January 2022, Barnes entered a guilty plea in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia to two counts of felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer – both counts for resisting arrest – and one count of felony aggravated battery, for injuring one of the arresting officers.  The superior court sentenced Barnes pursuant to the First Offender Act to a total of ten years to serve one. Upon learning of Barnes’s conviction, the State Bar filed a petition to initiate disciplinary proceedings pursuant to Bar Rule 4-106 (establishing a shortened timeframe for disciplinary proceedings based on an attorney’s conviction of a crime); this Court appointed a Special Master; and the Bar personally served Barnes with the petition and the order of appointment.

Respondent did not participate in the bar hearing

Although Barnes was consulted about, and notified of, the date of the show cause hearing, she failed to appear.

Sanction

disbarment is an appropriate sanction in matters involving felony convictions for crimes of interference with the administration of justice, in this case felony obstruction of police…

Having reviewed the record, which we again note contains no argument or evidence from Barnes, we agree with the Special Master that disbarment is the appropriate sanction here. Accordingly, we hereby order that the name of Wendy R. Barnes be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia.

(Mike Frisch)