[Cite as In re Bell ,

___ Ohio St.3d ___, 20 2 2

- Ohio

- 1836 .]

I N RE B ELL . [Cite as In re Bell ,

___ Ohio St.3d ___, 20 2 2

- Ohio

- 1836 .] (No. 2022

- 0660

— Submitted May 31 , 20 2 2

— Decided June 2 , 20 2 2 .)

O N C ERTIFIED E NTRY OF F ELONY C ONVICTION

.

____________________ {¶ 1} On May 31, 2022, and pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(18), the director of the Board of Professional Conduct filed with the Supreme Court a certified copy of a judgment entry of a felony conviction against Joseph Michael Bell, an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Ohio. {¶ 2} Upon consideration thereof and p ursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(18)(A)(4), it is ordered and decreed that respondent, Joseph Michael Bell, Attorney Registration No. 0095600, last known address in Warren, Ohio, is suspended from the practice of law for an interim period, effective as of the date of this entry. {¶ 3} It is further ordered that this matter is referred to disciplinary counsel for investigation and the commencement of disciplinary proceedings. {¶ 4} It is further ordered that respondent immediately cease and desist from the practice of law in a ny form and that respondent is forbidden to appear on behalf of another before any court, judge, commission, board, administrative agency, or other public authority. {¶ 5} It is further ordered that effective immediately, respondent is forbidden to counsel, adv ise, or prepare legal instruments for others or in any manner perform legal services for others. {¶ 6} It is further ordered that respondent is divested of each, any, and all of the rights, privileges, and prerogatives customarily accorded to a member in good s tanding of the legal profession of Ohio.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

2 {¶ 7} It is further ordered that before entering into an employment, contractual, or consulting relationship with any attorney or law firm, respondent shall verify that the attorney or law firm has complied with the regi stration requirements of Gov.Bar R. V( 23 )( C ). If employed pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V( 23) , respondent shall refrain from direct client contact except as provided in Gov.Bar R. V(23)(A )(1) and from receiving, disbursing, or otherwise handling any client trust funds or property. {¶ 8} It is further ordered that pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(13), respondent shall complete one credit hour of continuing legal education for each month, or portion of a month, of the suspension. As part of the total credit hours of continuing legal education required by Gov.Bar R. X(13), respondent shall complete one credit hour of instruction related to professional conduct required by Gov.Bar R. X(3)(B) for each six months, or portion of six months, of the suspension

. {¶ 9} It is further ordered that respondent shall not be reinstated to the practice of law in Ohio until (1) respondent complies with the requirements for reinstatement set forth in the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, (2) respondent complies with this and a ll other orders issued by this court, (3) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, and (4) this court orders respondent reinstated

. {¶ 10} It is further ordered by the court that within 90 days of the date of
this order, respondent shall reimburse any amounts that have been awarded by the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F). It is further ordered by the court that if after the date of this order, the Lawyers’ Fund for Client
Protec tion awards any amount against respondent pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F), respondent shall reimburse that amount to the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection within 90 days of the notice of that award

. {¶ 11} It is further ordered that on or before 30 days fro m the date of this order, respondent shall do the following:January Term , 2022

3 {¶ 12} 1. Notify all clients being represented in pending matters and any

co counsel of respondent ’ s suspension and consequent disqualification to act as an attorney after the effective date of this o rder and, in the absence of co counsel, also notify the clients to seek legal services elsewhere, calling attention to any urgency in seeking the substitution of another attorney in respondent ’ s place; {¶ 13} 2. Regardless of any fees or expenses due, deliver to all clients being represented in pending matters any papers or other property pertaining to the client or notify the clients or co counsel, if any, of a suitable time and place where the papers or other property may be obtained, calling attention to any urgency for obtaining such papers or other property; {¶ 14} 3. Refund any part of any fees or expenses paid in advance that are unearned or not paid and account for any trust money or property in respondent ’ s possession or control; {¶ 15} 4. Notify opposing couns el or, in the absence of counsel, the adverse parties in pending litigation of respondent ’ s disqualification to act as an attorney after the effective date of this order and file a notice of disqualification of respondent with the court or agency before wh ich the litigation is pending for inclusion in the respective file or files; {¶ 16} 5. Send all notices required by this order by certified mail with a return address where communications may thereafter be directed to respondent; {¶ 17} 6. File with the clerk of t his court and disciplinary counsel of the Supreme Court an affidavit showing compliance with this order, showing proof of service of the notices required herein, and setting forth the address where the affiant may receive communications; and {¶ 18} 7. Retain a nd maintain a record of the various steps taken by respondent pursuant to this order

.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

4 {¶ 19} It is further ordered that respondent shall keep the clerk and disciplinary counsel advised of any change of address where respondent may
receive communications. {¶ 20} It is further ordered that all documents filed with this court in this case shall meet the filing requirements set forth in the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, including requirements as to form, number, and timeliness of filings. All case doc uments are subject to Sup.R. 44 through 47, which govern
access to court records. {¶ 21} It is further ordered that service shall be deemed made on respondent by sending this order, and all other orders in this case, to respondent’s last known
address

. {¶ 22} It is further ordered that the clerk of this court issue certified copies of this order as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(E)(1) and that publication be made as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(E)(2).
O ’C ONNOR , C.J., and K ENNEDY , F ISCHER , D E W INE , D ONNELLY , S TEWART , and B RUNNER , JJ., concur.

_________________