The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-12-14
JUDGE ORDERS
DISBARMENT ACTION
IN ALtTTtR TO IRON COUNTY BAR
HE ASKS THAT wAFfEN BE TRIeo
MATTER WILL COME UP MONDAY
County Bar Has Done Nothing and viii
Probably do Nothing Until Wishes
OF the Judge Are Asceftsined.

ofths Judge Are Aseertainsd.
In "A letter sent 70 each member of
the Iron county bar by Judge FIanni-
agn last Monday disbarment proceed
ings .are ordered prosecuted against
August J. Waifen and the lawyers or
the county are asked to appoint com
mittee 10 prosecute the case with
Judge flannigan sitting in Judgment.
The letter is a copy OF letter writ.
ten TO Mr.. Waffen by Judge Flanagan
in reply to communication from the
prosecutor elect in which the latter
evidently asked the Judge TO take ac
tion TO bring out review Of the case.
The text Of the letter Is as follows
December g. 1919.
Mr.. August J. Waffen.
Iron Rvier, Michigan
Dear Sir
With me when ! wrote Yesterday in
reply to your letter OF November 30th
was the hope might be spared tho
distress which sitting in Judgment on
member Of the bar Of this Circuit il
bound to occasion. but. npon further
reflection and in view Of the nature
and publicity OF charges brought
against You and especially in view of
Your request that the same bo under
taken, | am persuaded ii is due YOU
the bar and the Conrt that such charges
be fully, fairly and promptly inyesti.
gated by and under the supervision OF
the court
Having reached that Conclusiun IL
has appealed to me as proper. TO the
end that all concerned may nave op.
portEnity for preparation, to announce
in advance OF the conyening OF the
term on the 10th instant, that. unless
developments in the meantime render
sach course unnecessary, which I sin
cerely hope may prove to be the case.
an investigation will be ordered and
proceeded with during that term
The Iron County Bar will DO request
ed TO appoint from among themselves 4
committee to formulate and prosecute
the charges and the proceeding contem Z
plated will involve the retention Of
your name on the roll Of attorneys.
"A copy OF this letter will be mailed
TO the members OF the Bar OF Iron
County.
Yours very truly
Richard g. Flannigan
Circuit Judge
IL may be seen from the above that
the iron county bar is instructed To
meet and appoint a committee TO try
Mr. Watfen but inquiry ut the Offices
OF the several attorneys Of the comfy
disclose the information thar no action
has yet been taken and that it Is i'm
probable that any will be taken until
/ ext Monday when Judge Flanagan
will meet with the entire bar member.
ship OF the opening day OF court and
his wishes viii be- ascertained and fol
lowed.
We are told that the usual procedure
Is for the bar 10 meet and appoint
from among the member
ship 20 draft complaint against the ac-
cused This committee will act as
prosecutors while the accused has the
privilege Of engaging attorneys TO de-
fend him
The trial is heard by the judge who
orders the proceedings and both sidcs
are privileged 70 place upon the wit.
ness stand witnesses Ia testify to any
Of the acts charged in the complaint or
10 refute the accusations
This Is the first time thar disbnrment
have ever been prosecuted
against an attorney IN this county and
but few instances OF the kind have
happened in the 95th siudiciai circuit.
he last one occurring In the Menopr
nee circuit
Should the defendant he found guilty
ais name will be ordered removed from
ne llst OF attorneys ana ne be diS1uall
led from practicing his profession in
his state.
Should the accusations be- not proven
ie will be given clean bill by the
udge.
V Is necessary 10 DO considerable
york to efficiently prosecute case
Iuch as the present one and is practi
ially impossible for the bar 10 prepare
~ the details OF y trial in the weeks
lime given them by Judge tiannigan's
etter.
For that reason. IL is very probsblo
hat the case will not come to trial IN
il February