Case Name: THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Ronald E. KAY, Respondent
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1970-02-11
Citations: 232 So. 2d 378
Docket Number: No. 38694
Parties: THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Ronald E. KAY, Respondent.
Judges: DREW and CARLTON, JJ., SPEC-TOR, District Judge, and VANN, Circuit Judge, concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 232
Pages: 378–381

Head Matter:
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, v. Ronald E. KAY, Respondent.
No. 38694.
Supreme Court of Florida.
Feb. 11, 1970.
Rehearing Denied March 30, 1970.
M. Daniel Futch, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, for The Florida Bar, complainant.
Louis M. Jepeway, Jr., of Jepeway, Gas-sen & Jepeway, Miami, for respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We have received the following judgment of the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar which is predicated upon a violation of Integration Rule, Art. XI, Rule 11.02(3), 32 F.S.A.:
"JUDGMENT
"This cause came on for review and consideration by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar upon the report of the referee and the record of proceedings before him.
"The referee found that on December 1, 1966, respondent was a party to a homosexual act with a consenting adult male in the public lavatory of Stranahan Park, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This activity was observed by a police officer. As a result of this observation, respondent was charged with indecent exposure in the Fort' Lauderdale Municipal Court, said charge being a violation of the Code of Ordinances of the city. A finding of guilty was subsequently entered. An appeal was taken by respondent to the Circuit Court which affirmed the municipal court. A further appeal was taken to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. On November 4, 1968, the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court. Kay v. City of Fort Lauderdale, 215 So.2d 49 (4th D.C.A.Fla.1968).
"In addition to respondent's homosexual activity, the referee found a lack of candor and serious conflicts in respondent's testimony at the criminal and disciplinary hearings.
"It was the opinion of the referee that respondent's conduct was blatantly contrary to good morals and a proper subject for disciplinary action. The referee recommended that respondent be found guilty of misconduct justifying disciplinary measures and that he be permanently disbarred.
"The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar concurs with the referee's findings of fact and finds respondent guilty of conduct justifying disciplinary measures but modifies the recommendation of discipline. Therefore it is,
"ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Ronald E. Kay be found guilty of conduct contrary to good morals and that he be disbarred from the practice of law in Florida. It is further ordered that he pay the costs of these proceedings in the amount of $696.11.
"DONE AND ORDERED this 26th day of May, 1969."
We have carefully considered the oral arguments presented before this Court as well as the briefs and record arising out of this cause. We conclude that there is no reason to disturb the judgment of the Board of Governors, which is hereby confirmed. The respondent Ronald E. Kay is hereby disbarred from the practice of law in this State and the costs of this proceeding in the amount of $696.11 are hereby taxed against him.
It is so ordered.
DREW and CARLTON, JJ., SPEC-TOR, District Judge, and VANN, Circuit Judge, concur.
ERVIN, C. J., concurs specially.