Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Richard J. Martin
Citation: 2007 WI 44
Docket Number: 2007AP000209-D
State: Wisconsin
Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date: April 17, 2007

2007 WI 44 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
2007AP209-D 
 
 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Richard J. Martin, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
          Complainant, 
     v. 
Richard J. Martin, 
          Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MARTIN 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
April 17, 2007   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
2007 WI 44
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE 
This order is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The 
final version will appear in the 
bound volume of the official 
reports.   
 
 
 
No.  2007AP209-D  
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Richard J. Martin, Attorney at Law: 
 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Richard J. Martin, 
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
APR 17, 2007 
 
David R. Schanker 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
Madison, WI 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Court entered the following order on this date: 
 
This court reviews the stipulation filed by the Office of 
Lawyer Regulation (OLR) and Attorney Richard J. Martin pursuant 
to SCR 22.12.  Attorney Martin was admitted to practice law in 
Wisconsin in 1991.  He was subsequently admitted to practice law 
in Michigan in 1996.  Attorney Martin’s Wisconsin bar membership 
has been continuously suspended since October 31, 1996 for 
failing to pay bar dues and since June 2, 1998 for noncompliance 
with continuing legal education requirements.  
 
The stipulation provides that by virtue of having received 
discipline in the form of a one year probationary term with 
conditions on his practice of law, imposed by the State of 
Michigan Attorney Disciplinary Board for his violation of 
Michigan Rules of Professional Misconduct, Attorney Martin is 
subject to reciprocal discipline in Wisconsin pursuant to SCR 
22.22(2).   
No.  2007AP209-D   
 
2 
   
The stipulation states that Attorney Martin’s Michigan 
misconduct consisted of failing to explain a matter to a client 
in a criminal matter to the extent reasonably necessary to 
permit 
his 
client 
to 
make 
informed 
decisions 
regarding 
representation, contrary to Michigan Rules of Professional 
Conduct 1.4(b), 8.4(a) and 9.104(A)(4).   
 
The stipulation requests that this court require as a 
condition of his practice of law in Wisconsin that Attorney 
Martin fully comply with the terms of his Michigan probation as 
reciprocal discipline.  The OLR states that pursuant to SCR 
21.16(4), conditions on the continued practice of law may be 
imposed as discipline for attorney misconduct.  The OLR further 
states 
that 
the 
terms 
and 
the 
conditions 
of 
probation 
established by 
the 
Michigan Disciplinary Board effectuate 
identical discipline under SCR 22.22(3).  See Disciplinary 
Proceedings Against Moree, 2004 WI 118, 275 Wis. 2d 279, 684 
N.W.2d 667. 
   
SCR 22.22(3), which governs the imposition of reciprocal 
discipline, provides that this court “shall impose the identical 
discipline” with certain exceptions not applicable here.  Under 
SCR 22.12(2), if this court approves a stipulation, it shall 
impose the stipulated discipline. 
 
Upon the foregoing, therefore, 
 
IT IS ORDERED this court approves the stipulation and 
adopts the stipulated facts and conclusions of law. 
  
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as reciprocal discipline, as a 
condition of his practice of law in Wisconsin, Attorney Martin 
shall fully comply with the terms of his Michigan probation as 
provided in the stipulation.  The imposition of reciprocal 
discipline does not affect his suspension for nonpayment of bar 
dues and noncompliance with continuing education requirements.    
 
 
 
No.  2007AP209-D   
 
2