Case Title: The Florida Bar v. Clark

Citation: 528 So. 2d 369

Docket Number: 

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 1988-07-14T00:00:00Z

Document:
528 So. 2d 369 (1988)
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant,
v.
Bret S. CLARK, Respondent.
No. 70295.

Supreme Court of Florida.
July 14, 1988.
*370 John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director and John T. Berry, Staff Counsel, Tallahassee, and Randi Klayman Lazarus, Bar Counsel, Miami, for complainant.
Bret S. Clark, Miami Shores, in pro. per.
PER CURIAM.
This cause is before the Court for consideration of the findings and recommendations set forth in a referee's report. Respondent has filed a petition for review. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 15, Fla. Const.
The referee made the following relevant findings of fact:
The referee determined that respondent had violated the following Disciplinary Rules of The Florida Bar's Code of Professional Responsibility: Rules 1-102(A)(6) (conduct that adversely reflects on attorney's fitness to practice law); 7-102(A)(2) (advancement of a claim or defense that is unwarranted under existing law); and 8-102(B) (a lawyer shall not knowingly make false accusations against a judge or other adjudicatory officer).
Respondent takes issue with the referee's findings and asserts that the Bar seeks to violate his first amendment rights *372 and right of access to the court system. We agree with the referee in rejecting these claims. Curtailing respondent's abuse of the court system does not deny him access to the courts or violate his constitutional rights. As the referee noted:
We likewise reject respondent's assertion that by charging him with a violation of Rule 8-102(B), the Bar is preventing him from discharging his ethical duty to advise the public of judicial wrongdoing. Respondent is being sanctioned, not for exercising his right to criticize the judiciary but for making false and unsubstantiated charges against the judiciary.
We accept the referee's recommendation and publicly reprimand respondent.
Judgment for costs in the amount of $467.15 is hereby entered against respondent for which sum let execution issue.
It is so ordered.
EHRLICH, C.J. and OVERTON, McDONALD, SHAW, BARKETT, GRIMES and KOGAN, JJ., concur.