Case Title: COMMITTEE ON PROF. ETHICS, ETC. v. Littlefield

Citation: 244 N.W.2d 824

Docket Number: 

State: iowa

Court: Iowa Supreme Court

Date: 1976-08-30T00:00:00Z

Document:
244 N.W.2d 824 (1976) COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND CONDUCT OF the IOWA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, Complainant, v. Paul LITTLEFIELD, Respondent. No. 58386. Supreme Court of Iowa. August 30, 1976. Lee H. Gaudineer, Jr. and Hedo M. Zacherle, Des Moines, for complainant. Paul Littlefield, pro se. Considered en banc. REES, Justice. This is an attorney's disciplinary proceedings which had its genesis in the filing on March 4, 1974 of a complaint against Attorney Paul William Littlefield. The complaint consists of five separate counts specifying various violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility for Lawyers. I. On February 7, 1975 the above mentioned complaint came on for hearing before the Third Division of the Grievance Commission pursuant to our rule 118, as amended. The transcript of the proceedings at such hearing, together with the exhibits introduced at the hearing, is before us for de novo review. The report of the Grievance Commission consists of findings of fact, conclusions of law and the recommendation that the respondent be permanently disbarred from the practice of law in this state. The report was filed May 22, 1975. Respondent thereafter gave notice of appeal and engaged in many diversionary tactics which we do not now deem necessary to discuss in detail. *825 Suffice it to say that by order of this court dated June 24, 1976, the appeal was submitted to the full Bench without oral argument on July 23, 1976, a detailed de novo review of the entire file was undertaken by the court including a review of the Grievance Commission's finding of fact and conclusions of law. The report of the Grievance Commission includes the following findings: Our review of the record impels us to reach the same findings and conclusions as did the Grievance Commission. II. The conduct of the respondent in this case was aggravated by the fact that not only is he guilty of the crime of attempting *826 to defraud another, but that he has violated the provisions of his parole by engaging in the practice of law almost immediately after he was granted probation upon the condition that he not engage therein. Further, respondent failed to secure the psychological counselling and treatment the Kentucky court ordered him to undergo, but instead left the State of Kentucky and returned to Iowa. Respondent therefore showed himself to be determined to evade the restrictions of his probation and willfully disobeyed the order of a lawful court. Obviously, he did not inform the Kentucky court that he was engaging in the practice of law in Iowa. His dishonest and deceitful conduct in these regards demonstrates his lack of the requisite good moral character required of an individual before he is permitted to engage in the practice of law in this state, and his actions permit of no other sanction than the immediate and permanent revocation of his license to practice the profession of law in Iowa. The interest of the judicial system and of the public require such action and the respondent's conduct is indicative of the necessity therefor. See Committee on Professional Ethics v. Bromwell, 221 N.W.2d 777 (Iowa 1974). III. Our obligation is to inquire in this proceeding as to whether respondent Paul Littlefield has shown himself to be unfit to engage in the practice of law as a member of the Bar of this state. The record clearly establishes such conduct on his part as to justify his permanent disbarment. It is so ordered and the respondent is permanently disbarred from the practice of law in this state. All Justices concur.