Title: WILLIAM MORRIS SAWYER V. KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION

State: kentucky

Issuer: Kentucky Supreme Court

Document:

'~$Uyrrmr C-Ourf of WILLIAM MORRIS SAWYER 2007-SC-000297-KB V. IN SUPREME COURT KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION RESPONDENT OPINION AND ORDER TO BE PUBLISHED Pursuant to SCR 3.480(3), William Morris Sawyer, KBA Member No . 61685, moves this Court to suspend his license to practice law in Kentucky for a period of three years, effective from January 3, 2004, the date he was temporarily suspended after pleading guilty to a Class D felony . Sawyer was admitted to practice law in this Commonwealth on September 1, 1972 . His bar roster address is 917 College Street, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 . On January 2, 2004, Movant pled guilty to first degree possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of a prescription not in the original container and possession of drug paraphernalia . As a result, he was automatically temporarily suspended by virtue of SCR 3.166 . Pursuant to Movant's plea agreement in 2004, he was granted pretrial diversion for five years . He was granted an early release by the Court on August 18, 2006, and is not currently under any probation . His felony case was diverted and dismissed . The Inquiry Commission charged Movant with one count of violating SCR 3.130- 8.3(b) which prohibits a lawyer from committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects . Movant admits that his felonious acts violated the rule and requests a three-year suspension, retroactive to the date of his temporary suspension . The KBA concluded that this was the appropriate discipline and agrees that the suspension should be retroactive . Movant has taken responsibility for the violations . He did not harm a client in connection with his criminal act, and he has remained compliant with his Kentucky Lawyer Assistance Program (KYLAP) supervision agreement . We accept the recommendation of the KBA and grant Sawyer's motion . Upon the foregoing, it is ordered that : (1) William Morris Sawyer is hereby suspended from the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for a period of three years, effective January 3, 2004 . (2) In accordance with SCR 3.450, Sawyer is ordered to pay all costs associated with these disciplinary proceedings, said sum being $35 .88 and for which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order . All sitting . All concur . ENTERED : June 21, 2007 .