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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 EDMUND F.SHEEHY,JR. Office pfthe State Public Defender Conflict Defender Division 21.1 N.Higgins Ave.,Ste. 401 Missoula,MT 59802 (406)329-1640 esheehvamt.wv Attorney for Respondent

BEFORE THE COMMISSION ON PRACTICE OFTHE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

* * * * * * * * * * * * * FILED 09/29/2020 Commission on Pracitce ofthe Supreme Court State of Montana 

# FILE NOV 18 2020 Bowen Greenwood Clerk of Supreme Court State, of Montana

IN THE MATTER OF PATRICK SANDEFUR, ) Supreme CourtNo.20-0039 An Attorney at Law, ) ODC File Nos. 19-078 ) Respondent. ) CONDITIONAL ADMISSION AND ) AFFIDAVIT OF CONSENT r STATE OF MONTANA ) : ss. COUNTY OF MISSOULA ) Patrick Sandefur,being first duly sworn upon oath deposes and affirins as follows. 1. 

## ram the respondent. I tender my conditional admission and make this affidavit of consent pursuant to Rule 26, Montana Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement (2018), in exchange for the stated forms ofdiscipline. 2. I am a lawyer against whom a formal complaint has been filed alleging ethical misconduct. I am infomied and aware ofthe allegations against me and understand that; ifthose allegations are proved by clear and convincing evidence, thete exist grounds for discipline against me. 3. I present this affidavit of consent and my tendered admission to an Adjudicatory Panel ofthe Commission on Practice in exchange for the form ofdiscipline described below. If

CONDITIONAL ADIVIISSIONAND AFFIDAVIT OF CONS ; ENT- Page .11 11/18/2020

Case Number: PR 20-0039.3

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13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 the Cornmission on Practice approves my tendered adrnission, I acknowledge My tendered admission is subject to acceptanc.e Or rejection by the Montana Supreme Court. If my conditional admission is 

### rejected by either the Comrnission on Practice or the Supreme Court, then I understand rny admission shall be deerned withdrawn and cannot be tised against rne in this or any subsequent proceeding. 4. My consent to discipline is freely and voluntarily tendered. I am not subject to coercion or duress of any kind. I arn fully aware of the implications of submitting rny conditional admission and affidavit ofconsent. 5. Consistent with the foregoing,I admit all the allegations in the cOmplaintare true, specifically: A. I was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Mdritana in 1997, at which time I toOk the oath required for admission,wherein I agreed to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct, the Disciplinary Rules adopted by the Suprerne Court, and the highest standards of honesty; justice and morality, including but not limited to, those outlined in parts 3 and 4 ofChapter 61,Title 37,Montana Code Annotated. B. I was appointed to represent the three defendants in the underlying complaints. C. During the tirne period of July through September; 2019, ODC received grievances from each of the defendants alleging I engaged in unethical conduct while representing them.The grievances were docketed as ODC File Nos. 19-075, 19-076,and , 19-102.D. ODC sent the grievances to rne in August (19-075 and 19-076) and October 2019(19-102(,requesting responses to each. I did not respond. E. ODC sent second notices ofthe grievances in Septernber and November, respectively,which were received at my office,again requesting responses.

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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 , 23 24 25 F. In a phone conversation with ODC on October 2, 2019, I was granted an

extension to October 11,2019 to provide my responses in 19-075 and 1.9-076. G. ODC emailed• me on October 28, 2019, reminding me of the missed deadline and the pending deadline for 19-102. By return email that same day,I advised I " had been "workihg diligently"to answer the grievanCes and would have them mailed and ernailed that day. I did not do so. H. Despite ODC filing a formal cornplaint:and continued requests by ODC for rny respcinse,through my attorney, I did not file rny responses to the three grievances until late August 2020.. I. While not charged in the January 15, 2020 Complaint, I adrnit I violated Rule 8.1(a), MRPC, by knowingly making a false Statement when I advised ODC:on October 28,2019 that the responses would he mailed and emailed that day. J. As charged,in the Complaint, by rny conduct outlined above, I admit I repeatedly violated Rule 8.1(b), MRPC,for failing to promptly and diligently respond to ODC's inquiries. K. I admit I appeared before the Cornrnission on Practice in July 2019 for a Rule 24, MRLDE, Order to Show Cause hearing for my failure td respond to a prior grievance. 6. I tender my adrnissions in exchange fOr the following forrns ofdiscipline: A. An admonition by the Commission on Practice to be delivered in writing or orally,at the Cornrnission's discretion. B. I understand ODC will advocate for imposition of a 30-day suspension frorn tlie practice oflaw. I will advocate for a lesser sanction. C. I further acknowledge the Commission's decision to impose discipline is final unless,within ten days ofthe Comrnission's decision,the responding lawyer, ODC,

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### or.a member ofthe public fileS a petition with the Clerk ofthe Supreme Court asking the

Court to review the decision. D. I agree to the payment ofcosts incurred by ODC and the Commission on. Practice in connection with this.matter. DATED this 28'1 day ofSepternber 2020.

Patrick San efur STATE OF MONTANA ) ):ss COUNTY OF MISSOULA ) This instrurnent was SIGNED AND SWORN TO before me on this 2.th : :. i ,- ;Ole

I CK SANDEFU I R. NOTARY PUBLIC foftit A ii State of Montan§ Residing at Mioatilo,MT —711V/ My COMMIŠ§bliSOW 

### January31,2024, No a y Bun forthe State ofMontana
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this , ''day of 2020.

Edmund Sheehy,Attorney forResp CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that .on this 'Oay of September, 2020, I served • a copy of the foregoing document on ODC by ernalling a copy to Pamela D.Bucy,ChiefDisciplinary Counsel at: pbucy(amontanaodc.org. Edmund Sheehy

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