Title: Board of Professional Responsibility, Wyoming State Bar v. Jolley

State: wyoming

Issuer: Wyoming Supreme Court

Document:

Board of Professional Responsibility, Wyoming State Bar v. Jolley1991 WY 13805 P.2d 862Case Number: D-90-10Decided: 02/07/1991Supreme Court of Wyoming
BOARD OF 
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WYOMING STATE BAR, Petitioner,

 
 
v.

 
 
John R. 
JOLLEY, Respondent

ORDER 
IMPOSING PUBLIC CENSURE AND ASSESSING COSTS

 [¶1.]     The Board of 
Professional Responsibility of the Wyoming State Bar on December 12, 1990, 
presented this Court its Report charging respondent, an attorney regularly 
admitted to the practice of law in the State of Wyoming, with professional misconduct. A 
Stipulation of Facts was entered into between the Board of Professional 
Responsibility and respondent upon which the Board of Professional 
Responsibility recommended that a public censure be imposed upon respondent for 
his conduct and that respondent be assessed the costs incurred by the Board of 
Professional Responsibility in the amount of $ 364.48.

 [¶2.]     The findings of fact of 
the Board of Professional Responsibility authenticated by the Stipulation of 
Facts entered into by the parties stated in part:

1. 
The Respondent is subject to the jurisdiction of this Board pursuant to Rule I 
of the Amended Rules Relating to the Disciplinary Code for the Wyoming State 
Bar.

 
 
2. 
Respondent, in the course of representing a criminal defendant who had been 
incarcerated and in attempting to obtain her release, swore at a justice of the 
peace over the telephone when the   justice   of the peace refused to 
release the defendant.

 
 
3. 
Respondent's conduct violated Rules 8.4(d) and 4.4 of the Rules of Professional 
Conduct. Said Rules provide as follows:

Rule 8.4. Misconduct.

It 
is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ...:

(d) 
engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of 
justice...

 
 

Rule 
4.4. Respect for rights of third persons.

 
 
In 
representing a client, a lawyer shall not use means that have no substantial 
purpose other than to embarrass, delay, or burden a third 
person...

4. 
Respondent, in representing an incarcerated defendant and in attempting to 
obtain her release, became argumentative with a justice of the peace over the 
telephone and told the justice of the peace that unless his client was released 
from jail, either he or his client would sue the county, demand a jury trial, 
and cause everyone as much trouble and expense as he 
could.

5. 
Respondent's conduct violated Rules 8.4(d) and 4.4 of the Rules of Professional 
Conduct. Said Rules provide as follows:

Rule 
8.4. Misconduct.

It 
is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ...:

(d) 
engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration  of 
justice...

 
 
Rule 
4.4. Respect for rights of third persons.

 
 
In 
representing a client, a lawyer shall not use means that have no substantial 
purpose other than to embarrass, delay, or burden a third 
person...

 
 
6. 
Respondent was present at the place of business of a client upon whom a lawful 
execution was being served by an undersheriff in the course of his normal 
duties. Respondent became agitated and told the undersheriff that the execution 
was not worth the paper it was written on and the execution was torn. Respondent 
further told the undersheriff that if the undersheriff attempted to possess any 
of the client's property that he, the Respondent, would see that the 
undersheriff would be sued personally.

7. 
Respondent's conduct violated Rules 8.4(d) and 4.4 of the Rules of Professional 
Conduct. Said Rules provide as follows:

Rule 
8.4. Misconduct.

It 
is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ...:

 
 
 (d) engage in conduct that is prejudicial 
to the administration of justice...

 
 
Rule 
4.4. Respect for rights of third persons.

 
 
In 
representing a client, a lawyer shall not use means that have no substantial 
purpose other than to embarrass, delay,   or burden a third 
person...

8. 
In his application for admission to the Wyoming State Bar, Respondent * * * 
stated on said application that he had previously been arrested for assault and 
battery when in fact he had previously been arrested for assault and battery or 
assault with the intent to commit the crime of rape.

 
 
* * * * 
* *

 
 
10. 
Respondent's conduct violated Rule 8.4(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. 
Said Rule provides as follows:

Rule 
8.4. Misconduct.

It 
is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ...:

 
 
 (c) engage in conduct involving 
dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation...

 
 
11. 
Respondent's misconduct with respect to the two justices of the peace and the 
undersheriff was a violation of his duty owed to the legal 
system.

 [¶3.]     The Board of 
Professional Responsibility further found that there were no aggravating or 
mitigating factors presented.

 [¶4.]     The Court, having 
carefully considered the file and record submitted herein, hereby   adopts 
as part of this Order, and attaches hereto, the Report of the Board of 
Professional Responsibility, and finds that the public censure as recommended by 
the Board is appropriate. It is, therefore,

 [¶5.]     ORDERED that the Report 
of the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Wyoming State Bar be, and it 
is hereby, approved; and it is

 [¶6.]     FURTHER ORDERED that 
John R. Jolley be, and he is hereby, publicly censured for professional 
misconduct in violation of Rules 8.4(c) and (d) and 4.4 of the Rules of 
Professional Conduct; and it is

 [¶7.]     FURTHER ORDERED that 
the costs of the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Wyoming State Bar 
incurred in connection with the investigation and disciplinary proceedings in 
this instance in the amount of $ 364.48 be, and they hereby are, assessed 
against the respondent, John R. Jolley, to be paid to the Wyoming State Bar 
Board of Professional Responsibility pursuant to Rule XXIII of the Disciplinary 
Code for the Wyoming State Bar, and it is

 [¶8.]     FINALLY ORDERED that 
the clerk of the Court docket the Report and all supporting papers of the Board 
of Professional Responsibility of the Wyoming State Bar, as well as this order, 
as a matter coming regularly before this Court as a public 
record.

 
 

AppendixState of 
Wyoming

SS.County of Laramie

Before 
the Board of Professional Responsibility Wyoming State Bar State of 
WyomingIn re John R. Jolley, Respondent.

Docket 
No. 97-88

REPORT

 [¶9.]     A COMPLAINT FOR FORMAL 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS was filed against Respondent on July 25, 1990. An 
ANSWER was filed by Respondent's attorney on August 8, 1990. Since that time, 
negotiations between Bar Counsel and Respondent's counsel have occurred, and on 
November 26, 1990 a STIPULATION OF FACTS was entered into between counsel. Said 
STIPULATION OF FACTS was also signed by the Respondent.

 [¶10.]  The record in this matter which is being 
transmitted with this REPORT is attached hereto and incorporated herein by 
reference, and consists of the following: the COMPLAINT FOR FORMAL DISCIPLINARY 
PROCEEDINGS; Respondent's ANSWER; NOTICE OF SETTING; and STIPULATION OF FACTS. 
Said record is attached hereto and incorporated herein by 
reference.[¶10.]  The Board hereby adopts and incorporates 
by reference the attached STIPULATION OF FACTS and finds each and every one of 
them as if recited individually herein. The Board further finds the 
following:

 [¶11.]  1. The Respondent is subject to the 
jurisdiction of this Board pursuant to Rule I of the Amended Rules Relating to 
the Disciplinary Code for the Wyoming State Bar.

 [¶12.]  2. Respondent, in the course of 
representing a criminal defendant who had  been incarcerated and in 
attempting to obtain her release, swore at a justice of the peace over the 
telephone when the justice of the peace refused to release the 
defendant.

 [¶13.]  3. Respondent's conduct violated Rules 
8.4(d) and 4.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Said Rules provide as 
follows: 

Rule 
8.4. Misconduct.

 
 
It is 
professional misconduct for a lawyer to ...:

(d) 
engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of 
justice...

 
 
Rule 
4.4. Respect for rights of third persons.

In 
representing a client, a lawyer shall not use means that have no substantial 
purpose other than to embarrass, delay, or burden a third 
person...

 [¶14.]  4. Respondent, in representing an 
incarcerated defendant and in attempting to obtain her release, became 
argumentative with a justice of the peace over the telephone and told the 
justice of the peace that unless his client was released from jail,   
either he or his client would sue the county, demand a jury trial, and cause 
everyone as much trouble and expense as he could.

 [¶15.]  5. Respondent's conduct violated Rules 
8.4(d) and 4.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Said Rules provide as 
follows: 

Rule 
8.4. Misconduct.

It 
is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ...:

(d) 
engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of 
justice...

 
 
Rule 
4.4. Respect for rights of third persons.

 
 
In 
representing a client, a lawyer shall not use means that have no substantial 
purpose other than to embarrass, delay, or burden a third 
person...

 [¶16.]  6. Respondent was present at the place of 
business of a client upon whom a lawful execution was being served by an 
undersheriff in the course of his normal duties. Respondent became agitated and 
told the undersheriff that the execution was not worth the paper it was written 
on and the execution was torn. Respondent further told the undersheriff that if 
the undersheriff attempted to possess any of the client's property that he, the 
Respondent, would see that the undersheriff would be sued 
personally.

 [¶17.]  7. Respondent's conduct violated Rules 
8.4(d) and 4.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Said Rules provide as 
follows: 

Rule 
8.4. Misconduct.

It 
is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ...:

 
 
(d) 
engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of 
justice...

Rule 
4.4. Respect for rights of third persons.

In 
representing  a client, a lawyer shall not use means that have no 
substantial purpose other than to embarrass, delay, or burden a third 
person...

 [¶18.]  8. In his application for admission to 
the Wyoming State Bar, Respondent negligently stated on said application that he 
had previously been arrested for assault and battery when in fact he had 
previously been arrested for assault and battery or assault with the intent to 
commit the crime of rape.

 [¶19.]  9. Respondent's conduct in 
misrepresenting the prior criminal charge on his application for admission to 
the Wyoming State Bar was negligent rather than 
intentional.

 [¶20.]  10. Respondent's conduct violated Rule 
8.4(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Said Rule provides as follows: 

Rule 
8.4. Misconduct.

It 
is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ...:

 
 
(c) 
engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or 
misrepresentation...

 [¶21.]  11. Respondent's misconduct with respect 
to the two justices of the peace and the undersheriff was a violation of his 
duty owed to the legal system.

 [¶22.]  12. The American Bar Association's 
Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, at sec. 6.23, provides: 

Reprimand 
is generally appropriate when a lawyer negligently fails to comply with a court 
order or rule, and causes injury or potential injury to a client or other party, 
or causes interference or potential interference with a legal 
proceeding.

 [¶23.]  13. While this section is not precisely 
on point because Respondent did not violate a court order or rule, the 
misconduct referred to above was an interference with the legal process and is 
applicable by analogy.

 [¶24.]  14. With regard to the misconduct in 
filling out his application for admission to the Wyoming State Bar, Respondent 
violated a duty he owed to the legal profession.

 [¶25.]  15. The American Bar Association's 
Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, at sec. 7.3, provides: 

Reprimand 
is generally appropriate when a lawyer negligently engages in conduct that is a 
violation of a duty owed to the profession, and causes injury or potential 
injury to a client, the public, or the legal system.

 [¶26.]  16. In the American Bar Association's 
Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions at sec. 2.5, reprimand is defined 
as follows: 

Reprimand, 
also known as censure or public censure, is a form of discipline which declares 
the conduct of the lawyer improper, but does not limit the lawyer's right to 
practice.

 [¶27.]  17. The Board finds there are no 
aggravating or mitigating factors present in this matter.

 [¶28.]  18. In consideration of the entire record 
in this matter, it is the opinion of this Board that Respondent be publicly 
censured for his four violations of the Rules of Professional 
Conduct.[¶28.]  WHEREFORE, it is the recommendation of 
this Board that a public censure be imposed upon the Respondent for his conduct 
in this matter, and that Respondent be assessed the costs incurred by the Board 
in this matter in the amount of $ 364.48.

 [¶29.]  Dated this 12th day of December, 1990. 

Respectfully 
submitted,

/s/ 
Dean W. Borthwick

Dean W. 
Borthwick,

ChairmanWyoming 
State Bar

Board of 
Professional

Responsibility
P.O. Box 
109

Cheyenne, 
WY82003

(307) 
632-9061 EAPP