Title: Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Holcombe

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Holcombe, 93 Ohio St.3d 141, 2001-Ohio-1302] 
 
 
CINCINNATI BAR ASSOCIATION v. HOLCOMBE. 
[Cite as Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Holcombe (2001), 93 Ohio St.3d 141.] 
Attorneys at law — Misconduct — Indefinite suspension with no credit for time 
served — Conviction for attempted felonious assault. 
(No. 01-410 — Submitted April 2, 2001 — Decided August 15, 2001.) 
ON CERTIFIED REPORT by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and 
Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 99-74. 
__________________ 
 
Per Curiam.  On September 30, 1999, being advised that respondent, 
Marshall Maynard Holcombe, Jr., of London, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 
0023740, was sentenced to two years in prison for attempted felonious assault, we 
suspended him from the practice of law for an interim period,  In re Holcombe 
(1999), 87 Ohio St.3d 1410, 717 N.E.2d 343, and referred the matter for 
investigation to relator, Cincinnati Bar Association. 
 
On December 6, 1999, relator filed a complaint charging that respondent’s 
felony conviction constituted violations of DR 1-102(A)(3) (engaging in illegal 
conduct involving moral turpitude) and 1-102(A)(6) (engaging in conduct 
adversely reflecting on the lawyer’s ability to practice law).  The respondent 
answered, and the matter was referred to a panel of the Board of Commissioners 
on Grievances and Discipline (“board”). 
 
Based upon stipulations of the parties and testimony at a hearing, the panel 
found that in May 1999, respondent was arrested for assaulting a woman with 
whom he was having an affair. He pled “no contest” and was sentenced to two 
years’ confinement with credit for the eighty-five days he had served.  The panel 
concluded that respondent’s conduct and conviction violated the Disciplinary 
Rules as charged. 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
 
The panel found in mitigation that respondent had not previously been 
suspended from the practice of law and that at the time of the hearing he had been 
released on probation after seventeen months in prison.  He was then working at a 
McDonald’s Restaurant.  It further found that respondent regularly attended 
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and while in prison received counseling for 
anger management and sexual addiction. 
 
The panel recommended that respondent be suspended from the practice 
of law for one year with no credit for time served.  It further recommended that 
before any reinstatement respondent be required to submit proof that he had 
registered with the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program and obtain an OLAP 
monitor for substance abuse, continue to attend AA meetings at least five time a 
week, obtain professional counseling, and complete all CLE requirements.  The 
board adopted the findings and conclusions of the panel but recommended that 
respondent be suspended from the practice of law indefinitely with no credit for 
time served. 
 
We have reviewed the record in this matter and adopt the findings, 
conclusions, and recommendation of the board.  Respondent is hereby indefinitely 
suspended from the practice of law in Ohio with no credit for time served.  Costs 
are taxed to respondent. 
Judgment accordingly. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and 
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
 
James A. Vogele, for relator. 
 
M. Maynard Holcombe, Jr., pro se. 
__________________