Title: In Re the Florida Bar
Citation: 301 So. 2d 448
Docket Number: 44701
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: September 18, 1974

301 So. 2d 448 (1974)
In re THE FLORIDA BAR.
In re Robert Duncan TIMSON.
No. 44701.

Supreme Court of Florida.
September 18, 1974.
*449 Robert Duncan Timson, in pro. per.
William F. Simonet, Bar Counsel, Orlando, and Wilson J. Foster, Jr., Asst. Staff Counsel, Tallahassee, for The Florida Bar, respondent.
PER CURIAM.
We have for consideration a referee's findings, conclusions and recommendations concerning the petition of Robert D. Timson for reinstatement as a member of The Florida Bar, pursuant to Rule 11.11, Integration Rule of The Florida Bar.
The proceedings were conducted pursuant to the rules as they existed prior to the amendment on December 1, 1972. Since December 1, 1972, an attorney who has been permanently disbarred may only be admitted upon full compliance with the rules and regulations governing admissions to The Florida Bar. Also, such application may not be tendered earlier than three years after the date of disbarment. Timson, 64 years of age and married, resides in Orlando, Florida. In 1963, he was privately reprimanded for his failure to appear with a client in court at the time the client was sentenced to prison. In 1969, the Board of Governors wrote Timson a confidential letter reprimanding him for failure to account promptly to a client for funds belonging to the client.
Proceedings were brought charging Timson with mishandling a real estate closing and misconduct in the defense of a criminal case. There has been no charge, however, that Timson misappropriated funds or was guilty of any bad faith. On December 15, 1971, this Court affirmed and approved the referee's findings and recommendations for disbarment.
On November 30, 1972, Timson filed a petition for reinstatement to The Florida Bar. Timson carried with him the burden of proof to establish that, since his disbarment, he had rehabilitated himself to such a degree that he should be permitted to practice law. The reasons for Timson's disbarment were lack of good judgment, lack of professional responsibility, and lack of professional ability.
The elements to be considered in regard to reinstatement of an attorney are:
See In re Dawson, 131 So. 2d 472 (Fla. 1961).
At the proceeding before the referee, petitioner called twenty-one witnesses who confirmed that Timson's reputation for high morals and ethics was good. There was testimony that Timson's reputation for legal ability was "good," that he was "very *450 aggressive" and "qualified" to practice law. The majority of the witnesses supporting the petition judged his ability to practice law as being "adequate."
The witnesses called by The Florida Bar affirmed that Timson was highly ethical and of good moral character. Their testimony basically dealt with the ability of Timson to practice law. They described his ability in such terms as "poor," "not good," "below par" and "not exactly good."
The conclusions of the referee were as follows:
The referee recommended that the petition for reinstatement be denied or, alternatively, if the petition be granted, Timson's reinstatement be conditioned upon his successful completion of a Bar examination.
The Florida Bar asks this Court to sustain the findings of the referee and not permit the reinstatement of the petitioner.
In this proceeding there is no attack upon the moral character of the petitioner. However, the inquiry should not stop at that point, for the burden is upon Timson to show clear evidence of a "good reputation for professional ability," In re Dawson, supra. This he has failed to do.
It is our responsibility to safeguard the right of the public to secure adequate representation by attorneys and to maintain the image and integrity of The Florida Bar as a whole. See Petition of Wolf, 257 So. 2d 547, 548 (Fla. 1972). The record, as well as the report of the referee, clearly shows that Timson is not presently competent to practice law.
The petition for reinstatement is denied.
It is so ordered.
ADKINS, C.J., and BOYD, McCAIN, DEKLE and OVERTON, JJ., concur.