Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. George W. Lyons

State: wisconsin

Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Document:

2003 WI 139 
 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
03-2080-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against George W. Lyons, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
          Complainant, 
     v. 
George W. Lyons,  
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST LYONS 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
October 30, 2003   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2003 WI 139 
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  03-2080-D  
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against George W. Lyons, Attorney at  
Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation,  
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
George W. Lyons,  
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
OCT 30, 2003 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.  Attorney's 
license 
suspended.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   We review the stipulation filed by 
Attorney George W. Lyons and the Office of Lawyer Regulation 
(OLR) pursuant to SCR 22.12.1 
                                                 
1 Effective 
October 
1, 
2000, 
Wisconsin's 
attorney 
disciplinary process was substantially restructured.  The name 
of the body responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases 
involving attorney misconduct was changed from the Board of 
Attorneys Professional Responsibility to the Office of Lawyer 
Regulation and the supreme court rules applicable to the lawyer 
regulation system were also revised in part.  Some of the 
conduct underlying this case arose prior to October 1, 2000. 
No. 
03-2080-D   
 
2 
 
¶2 
On August 6, 2003, the OLR filed a complaint in this 
court alleging one count of misconduct against Attorney Lyons.  
Lyons did not file an answer, but instead, he and the OLR filed 
a stipulation in which Lyons admitted the facts and misconduct 
as alleged in the OLR complaint and agreed to the level of 
discipline the OLR sought in this disciplinary matter——a six-
month suspension of Lyons' license to practice law in this 
state.  
¶3 
We approve the stipulation and adopt the stipulated 
facts and conclusions regarding Lyons' misconduct as alleged in 
the OLR's complaint.  We determine that the seriousness of 
Attorney Lyons' misconduct warrants suspension of his license to 
practice law for a period of not less than six months.   
¶4 
George W. Lyons was born on June 18, 1924, and was 
admitted to the practice of law in Wisconsin in 1952.  Lyons' 
license to practice law has been suspended for nonpayment of 
mandatory bar dues since October 31, 2002.   
¶5 
The OLR complaint asserted that in 1991, Lyons was 
convicted on two felony counts of second-degree sexual assault 
of a child; sentencing was withheld and Lyons was placed on 
probation for 11 years.  However, prior to the expiration of his 
probation, revocation proceedings were commenced based on Lyons' 
admission that he had had inappropriate contact with two minors 
                                                                                                                                                             
However, the complainant in this case will be referred to as the 
OLR.  All references to supreme court rules will be to the 
current version of the supreme court rules unless otherwise 
noted. 
No. 
03-2080-D   
 
3 
 
while he was on probation.  As a result, Lyons' probation was 
revoked and on November 21, 2002, he was sentenced to two 
consecutive five-year prison terms for the underlying 1991 
convictions.  Lyons currently remains incarcerated on those 
sentences. 
¶6 
Neither the OLR, its predecessor (the Board of 
Attorneys Professional Responsibility), nor this court were 
informed 
of 
Lyons' 
1991 
conviction 
and 
sentence 
or 
the 
subsequent revocation of his probation and sentencing.  In June 
2002 a citizen sent a letter to the state bar questioning why a 
convicted child molester remained a member of the bar.  That 
inquiry was referred to the OLR who then commenced this 
investigation leading to the misconduct complaint.   
¶7 
The OLR complaint alleged, and Lyons now agrees and 
stipulates, 
that 
his 
conduct 
involving 
the 
inappropriate 
touching of two children which resulted in the revocation of his 
probation and subsequent incarceration, violated SCR 20:8.4(b).  
Specifically it was alleged that Lyons had committed a criminal 
act 
that 
reflects 
adversely 
on 
the 
lawyer's 
honesty, 
trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects, in 
violation of SCR 20:8.4(b). 
¶8 
Lyons admits to the facts as alleged in the OLR 
complaint and agrees with the OLR that his misconduct warrants a 
suspension of his license to practice law in this state for a 
period of six months.  
¶9 
The memorandum in support of the stipulation jointly 
filed by the OLR and Lyons, notes that a six-month suspension of 
No. 
03-2080-D   
 
4 
 
Lyons' license would require him to petition for reinstatement 
should he ever seek to do so.  Lyons would then be required to 
affirmatively prove by clear, satisfactory, and convincing 
evidence, his fitness to resume practice pursuant to SCR 22.31. 
¶10 We believe a six-month suspension is an appropriate 
sanction in light of the egregious nature of Lyon's misconduct; 
moreover, as noted, a suspension of that length will require him 
to petition for reinstatement.  SCR 22.28(3).  It is also 
generally consistent with the level of discipline imposed in 
similar prior cases.  Accordingly, we approve the stipulation, 
adopt the stipulated facts and conclusions of law, and impose 
the stipulated discipline.  See SCR 22.12(2).  We determine, 
under these particular facts and circumstances, that Lyons' 
license to practice law be suspended for a minimum period of six 
months as discipline for his admitted violation of the Rules of 
Professional Conduct governing lawyers in this state.   
¶11 IT IS ORDERED that the license of George W. Lyons to 
practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of six 
months, effective the date of this order.  
¶12 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that George W. Lyons comply with 
the provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a person 
whose license to practice law in Wisconsin has been suspended.  
 
No. 
03-2080-D   
 
 
 
1