Case ID: ohio-st-3d_127/html/1511-04.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Pfeifer, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

2008-1573.
    Disciplinary Counsel v. Brown.
   This cause came on for further consideration upon the filing by relator, Disciplinary Counsel, of a motion for an order to appear and show cause. Respondent was ordered to appear before this court, and he appeared on January 19, 2011.

Upon consideration thereof, it is ordered by this court that respondent, Bruce A. Brown, a.k.a. B. Andrew Brown, a.k.a. Amir Jamal Tauwab, is found in contempt for use of the terms “Esq.,” “Esquire,” “J.D.,” or “Juris Doctor” in conjunction with his name or his business name in violation of the court’s March 19, 2009 order.

It is further ordered that respondent is held in contempt of this court's order to pay a $50,000 civil penalty in this matter. Respondent is hereby ordered to submit to a debtor’s exam to be conducted by the office of the Ohio Attorney General within 45 days of the date of this order.

O’Connor, C.J., and Lundberg Stratton, O’Donnell, Lanzinger, Cupp, and McGee Brown, JJ., concur.

Pfeifer, J.,

concurs as follows:

I concur with the court’s order. In this case, Brown used the term “J.D.” in correspondence related to a civil case in which he was representing himself, implying that he was a licensed lawyer in that case. However, I would modify the order upon which today’s order is based. In Disciplinary Counsel v. Brown, 121 Ohio St.3d 423, 2009-Ohio-1152, 905 N.E.2d 163, ¶ 45, we issued an order “prohibiting respondent from using the terms ’Esq.,’ ’Esquire,’ ’J.D.,’ or ’Juris Doctor’ in conjunction with his name or business name.” We were incorrect in so limiting Brown’s use of the term “J.D.” and “Juris Doctor.” Brown does have a J.D. from Columbia University. This court can keep Brown from practicing law here, but we have no basis in saying he cannot associate his degree with his name, so long as he does not use it to hold himself out as a licensed lawyer.