The Path To Wellness

The Georgia Supreme Court has readmitted an attorney who had voluntarily surrendered his license in 2017 after a guilty plea to 21 counts of theft

On July 13, 2022, Skelton filed his application, in which he accepted responsibility for his actions; explained that the conduct that led to the voluntary surrender of his license was the result of a serious struggle with mental health and substance abuse; and described his efforts to improve his mental health and to become sober and maintain his sobriety. He detailed his close relationship with his wife and three young children; his current, stable employment; and his community service work, including his work with the Georgia Bar Association Committee on Attorney Wellness, Celebrate Recovery, and the Hart Youth Development Resource Association (the “Association”). As part of Skelton’s work with the Committee on Attorney Wellness, he published wellness articles in the Georgia Bar Journal, including one which detailed how Skelton’s struggles with his mental health and addiction led to losing his bar license and incarceration and what members of the Bar can do to help friends and colleagues with similar struggles. Skelton also submitted 40 letters of recommendation from lawyers—including from former and current colleagues and employers, former opposing counsels, a county solicitor general, a retired judge, and lawyers who have struggled with mental health and addiction—and non-lawyers who know Skelton through his work with the Committee on Attorney Wellness, Celebrate Recovery, and the Association, all of whom attest to Skelton’s potential to once again become a productive member of the Bar and many of whom attest to Skelton’s work to help lawyers and others who have struggled with addiction to achieve and maintain their own sobriety.

Through its investigation, the Fitness Board determined that no active grievances or other disciplinary matters against Skelton are pending before the Bar and that no restitution was required to be made to the Client Security Fund. At an informal conference convened before the Fitness Board, Skelton took full responsibility for his actions and made no excuses; expressed remorse for his actions; described his descent into addiction and the cycle of destructive behavior that led to his incarceration; and described in detail his path to recovery and maintaining his sobriety following his incarceration. 

(Mike Frisch)