Case Name: In the Matter of the Application of Robert H. Wilson, an Attorney
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1913-10-10
Citations: 158 A.D. 607
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Application of Robert H. Wilson, an Attorney.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 158
Pages: 607–608

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Application of Robert H. Wilson, an Attorney.
Second Department,
October 10, 1913.
Attorney at law — charges of professional misconduct in judicial opinion — power of Appellate Division to make investigation.
Under the Judiciary Law the Appellate Division has power, upon the personal motion of an attorney at law who has been charged in the written opinion of a justice with professional misconduct, to order an inquiry into his conduct and may designate persons to prepare charges and report to the court.
Motion by an attorney relative to alleged reflections upon his professional conduct appearing in an opinion of the Supreme Court.
Robert H. Wilson, for the motion.
Stephen C. Baldwin, opposed.

Opinion:
Per Curiam:
This is an application by an attorney and counselor for inquiry into his own professional conduct of a litigation. Subdivision 2 of section 88 of the Judiciary Law (Consol. Laws, chap. 30 [Laws of 1909, chap. 35], as amd. by Laws of 1912, chap. 253, and Laws of 1913, chap. 720) provides: "2. The Supreme Court shall have power and control over attorneys and. counsellors-at-law, and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in each department is authorized to censure, suspend from practice or remove from office any attorney and counsellor-at-law admitted to practice as' such who is guilty of professional misconduct, malpractice, fraud, deceit, crime or misdemeanor, or any conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice."
It is our duty, upon presentation of any matter that may or might require discipline of an attorney and counselor, to examine it, and if we determine that it requires investigation to cause the institution of proceedings. Such proceedings contemplate presentation of charges to be delivered to the attorney, to whom must he afforded an opportunity of being heard in his defense.
We think that the subject-matter justifies such proceedings as are prescribed by the Judiciary Law. The court designates William N. Dykman, Esq., and Stephen C. Baldwin, Esq., to prepare charges in the premises and to report them to this court for its action.
Any other person who may make known to this court any information touching the conduct of the attorney and counselor in the matter now before us will have his communication considered and acted upon. We appreciate and commend the. formal offer of the Brooklyn Bar Association to act or to aid in this matter, but we do not now avail ourselves of its offer, as the petitioner is an officer thereof.
Jenks, P. J., Thomas, Carr and Putnam, JJ., concurred; Rich, J., not voting.
Motion granted and matter referred to William N. Dykmáñ, Esq., and Stephen 0. Baldwin, Esq., to prepare charges in the premises, and to report them to this court for its action. Order to be settled before the presiding justice.