Things Did Not Go Better With Coke

The Georgia Supreme Court has reinstated a disbarred attorney.

He was already served a three-year suspension when this happened

Before that suspension expired, however, Kendall was convicted in federal court on charge of conspiring to give a client, who was a member of a drug distribution organization, advance notice of upcoming federal law enforcement searches and seizures, and of conspiring to distribute cocaine (by virtue of tipping off his client about the upcoming searches). He was acquitted of actually tipping off his client. Nevertheless, Kendall was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison, followed by three years on probation.

After release

Kendall outlined his efforts at rehabilitation in the community through his documented involvement in numerous community, educational, civic, and non-profit organizations that assist minorities, children and the elderly, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit organization that his wife and he started to increase awareness of the issues associated with, and to assist in the prevention of, childhood obesity…

The record contains twenty-nine letters of personal reference, including multiple letters from the legal community, friends, family members, members of the non-profit community, former employees, and prior clients. Among those providing letters of recommendation were federal and state court judges, a former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and the Chief of Police for the Clayton County Public Schools. The authors of the letters attest generally to Kendall’s high moral character, his generosity (with time and money), his compassion, his commitment to the community, and his professionalism and diligence in reestablishing the requisite character and fitness for a member of the State Bar of Georgia. They all support his readmission and many suggest that they would hire him or work with him if he is reinstated.

The court agreed. (Mike Frisch)