UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

No. 03-8004

IN RE: R. EDWARD BATES, MEMBER OF THE BAR.

Before GREENE, Chief Judge, and KASOLD and HAGEL, Judges. 

O R D E R

On November 18, 2008, attorney R. Edward Bates (respondent) was suspended from the

practice of law by the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, effective December 9, 2008. Because

of that action, which is a public discipline for professional misconduct, the respondent, under Rule

7(d)(2)(B) of the Court's Rules of Admission and Practice (A&P Rules), was ordered to show cause

why this Court should not impose identical or similar discipline as that already imposed by the

Supreme Court of Illinois. See U.S. VET. APP.R.ADM. & PRAC. 7(d)(2)(B). A response was received

from the respondent requesting that the Court impose the same discipline as that imposed by the

Illinois Supreme Court–suspension from the practice of law from December 9, 2008, to May 9, 2009.

On July 10, 2009, the Court advised the respondent of its proposed discipline and on July 17, 2009,

he filed a response, through counsel, accepting the discipline and requesting that the Court "issue

forthwith a public order imposing the discipline." See U.S. VET. APP. R. ADM. & PRAC. 5(d).

Mr. Bates's actions that led to his suspension from the practice of law by the State of Illinois

included the following conduct against veterans: 

(1) Breaching of fiduciary duty, 

(2) Accepting an unreasonable fee, 

(3) Committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty,

trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects, 

(4) Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, 

(5) Engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, and 

(6) Engaging in conduct which tends to defeat the administration of justice or to

bring the courts or the legal profession into disrepute.

For these unprofessional actions, the State of Illinois suspended the respondent from

practicing law for five months and required him, before the suspension would be lifted, to reimburse

the Client Protection Trust Fund for any Client Protection payments arising from his conduct prior

to the termination of the period of suspension. 

Accordingly, pursuant to A&P Rules 7(d)(3)(B) and 11(a)(1)-(4), it is

ORDERED that the respondent is suspended from the practice of law before the U.S. Court

of Appeals for Veterans Claims to run concurrently with the discipline imposed by the Illinois

Supreme Court. It is further 

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ORDERED that as a similar or equivalent disciplinary action to the reimbursement

requirement imposed by the State of Illinois, the respondent may only resume practice before this

Court after (1) completing 24 hours of professional responsibility/ethics continuing legal education

(CLE) that has been approved for CLE credit by the State of Illinois, (2) filing an affidavit with the

Clerk of the Court that he has been reinstated to practice law by the Illinois Supreme Court and that

he has completed the 24 hours of CLE ordered by the Court with proof of completion attached

thereto, and (3) completing the procedures in A&P Rule 11(a)(3) and Rule 46(a)(2) of the Court's

Rules of Practice and Procedure. 

DATED: August 17, 2009 PER CURIAM.

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