Case Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Mary P. Donovan

Citation: 2004 WI 21

Docket Number: 

State: wisconsin

Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Date: 2004-03-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
2004 WI 21 
 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
97-1770-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Mary P. Donovan, Attorney at Law. 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, f/k/a Board  
of Attorneys Professional Responsibility,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Mary P. Donovan,  
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
REINSTATEMENT OF DONOVAN 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
March 4, 2004 
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2004 WI 21 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE 
This order is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The 
final version will appear in the 
bound volume of the official 
reports.   
 
 
No.  97-1770-D 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Mary P. Donovan, Attorney at Law. 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, f/k/a Board  
of Attorneys Professional Responsibility,  
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Mary P. Donovan,  
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
MAR 4, 2004 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
Madison, WI 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Court entered the following order on this date: 
 
Mary P. Donovan’s license to practice law in Wisconsin was 
suspended 
for 
six 
months 
as 
the 
result 
of 
professional 
misconduct that occurred while she was acting as an assistant 
city attorney for the City of Beloit.  The misconduct consisted 
of her forging a certificate of completion of a deferred 
prosecution program and submitting it to the municipal court to 
obtain dismissal of charges against an acquaintance who had not 
been enrolled in the program and forging a friend’s signature on 
a letter submitted to the municipal court requesting a jury 
trial and representing the city on a charge against that friend.  
See Disciplinary Proceedings Against Donovan, 211 Wis. 2d 451, 
464 N.W.2d 772 (1997).   
 
Ms. Donovan filed a petition for reinstatement of her 
license to practice law on June 27, 2003.  John Schweitzer was 
appointed as referee.  A public hearing on Ms. Donovan’s 
petition for reinstatement was held on December 17, 2003.  The 
referee filed his report on January 2, 2004 recommending that 
97-1770-D 
 
2 
Ms. Donovan’s license to practice law be reinstated.  The 
referee’s report stated that Ms. Donovan satisfactorily answered 
and addressed all issues listed in SCR 22.29, which sets forth 
the various factors that must be demonstrated by a person 
seeking reinstatement.  The referee noted that no evidence was 
presented at the public hearing to cast doubt on Ms. Donovan’s 
present qualifications to practice law.  The referee found that 
Ms. Donovan had complied with the requirements of SCR 22.26 
regarding the activities of a person whose license has been 
suspended, and the referee concluded Ms. Donovan may safely be 
recommended to return to the practice of law. 
 
The referee specifically found that Ms. Donovan maintained 
competence and learning in the law by attending various 
educational activities.  The referee noted that a letter from 
the Board of Bar Examiners confirmed that Ms. Donovan had 
completed the necessary number of continuing legal education 
(CLE) hours, including ethics credits, and that she is current 
in her CLE obligations through December 31, 2004. 
 
The referee found that Ms. Donovan’s conduct since her 
suspension has been exemplary and above reproach; that she has a 
proper understanding of and attitude toward the standards that 
are imposed upon members of the bar; and that she can safely be 
recommended to the legal profession, the court and the public as 
a person fit to be consulted by others and to represent them and 
otherwise act in matters of trust and confidence and in general 
to aid in the administration of justice as a member of the bar 
and an officer of the courts.   
 
The referee also recommended that Ms. Donovan be required 
to pay the costs of the reinstatement proceeding within six 
months after her reinstatement.   
 
This 
court 
accepts 
the 
referee’s 
findings 
of 
fact, 
conclusions of law, and recommendation.   
 
IT IS ORDERED that the license to practice law of Mary P. 
Donovan be reinstated effective the date of this order.   
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within six months of the date of 
this order Mary P. Donovan pay the costs of this proceeding.  If 
the costs are not paid by that date, and absent a showing to 
this court of her inability to pay the costs, the license of 
Mary P. Donovan to practice law in Wisconsin shall be suspended 
until further order of this court.   
 
97-1770-D 
 
2 
 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
97-1770-D 
 
2