Title: In the Matter of Garris

State: south-carolina

Issuer: South Carolina Supreme Court

Document:

279 S.C. 559 (1983) 309 S.E.2d 755 In the Matter of Roy Ellison GARRIS, Jr., Respondent. 22012 Supreme Court of South Carolina. December 2, 1983. Atty. Gen. T. Travis Medlock and Sr. Asst. Atty. Gen. Richard B. Kale, Jr., Columbia, for complainant. Thomas E. McCutchen, Columbia, for respondent. Dec. 2, 1983. Per Curiam: In this disciplinary proceeding, the Hearing Panel and Executive Committee of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline determined respondent Roy E. Garris, Jr. had committed acts of misconduct warranting disbarment. We agree. Respondent admits these facts: *560 It appears from the record that respondent has essentially made restitution of the misappropriated funds by payment of an outstanding debt of his client in the amount of $48,820.30. We essentially concur with the conclusions of law made by the Panel and adopted by the Executive Committee. We hold that: Although respondent has introduced mitigating evidence, nothing can justify his wilful misappropriation of funds from his trust account. Respondent submitted a letter of permanent resignation subsequent to oral arguments, but prior to the filing of this opinion. We refuse to accept his resignation at this stage of the proceedings, as the State has devoted considerable time and expense toward the prosecution of this case. It is therefore ordered that respondent be, and hereby is, disbarred from the practice of law in this State. He shall within five (5) days from the service of this Order surrender his license to practice law to the Clerk of the Supreme Court for cancellation.