Title: Matter of Mekler
Citation: 669 A.2d 655
Docket Number: 305, 1994
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: November 27, 1995

669 A.2d 655 (1995)
In the Matter of a Member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware Arlen MEKLER, Respondent.
No. 305, 1994.

Supreme Court of Delaware.
Submitted: August 15, 1995.
Decided: November 27, 1995.
Victor F. Battaglia (argued), and David L. Finger, Biggs and Battaglia, Wilmington, for Respondent.
David Curtis Glebe, Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Wilmington, for Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Before VEASEY, C.J., WALSH and HOLLAND, JJ.
*657 PER CURIAM:
This matter is before the Court for final disciplinary action upon review of the March 16, 1995 report ("the Report") of the Board on Professional Responsibility (the "Board"). The respondent, Arlen Mekler ("Mekler" or "Respondent") is a member of the Bar of this Court, having been admitted to practice in 1972. The Board found that Mekler violated certain of the Delaware Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct (the "DLRPC") and recommended as a sanction a public reprimand plus two years of probation with conditions.
Mekler contends that the Board failed to interpret properly the scope of the Rules of the DLRPC deemed to have been violated, and erred in making findings of fact and applying those findings in interpreting the DLRPC. Mekler also contends that, in any event, the sanction is too harsh.
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (the "ODC") contends that the Board was correct in finding that certain Rules of the DLRPC were violated, but that the Board erroneously failed to find other violations. Mekler argues that, since the ODC did not cross-appeal, this Court may not review the decision of the Board not to find those violations. The ODC further contends that "a severe public sanction such as suspension or disbarment" is warranted.
The violations of the DLRPC found by the Board are supported by the evidence and should be sustained on review. Those findings, therefore, are AFFIRMED. As to Mekler's contention that this Court may not consider the ODC's argument that the Board erroneously refused to find certain other violations, we hold that, in a proper case, this Court is not precluded from considering and reversing the Board's refusal to find certain violations, even in the absence of a "cross-appeal." We do not, however, find any error in the Board's refusal to find certain violations of the DLRPC which are urged in this Court by the ODC. Accordingly, those findings are AFFIRMED.
As to the sanction to be imposed by this Court for the violations found by the Board and sustained herein, this Court may exercise its own judgment and is not bound by or limited to the Board's recommendation. Based on this record, the Court has concluded that a significant suspension is warranted and the sanction recommended by the Board is inadequate and inappropriate. Accordingly, IT IS THE JUDGMENT OF THIS COURT that Respondent shall be SUSPENDED from the practice of law for a period of not less than one year, commencing on January 1, 1996. Reinstatement will be considered upon any application filed by Mekler after December 31, 1996, provided he has complied with the conditions for reinstatement imposed herein.
On October 19, 1992, the ODC filed two Petitions for Discipline against Mekler. One petition alleged violations arising out of Mekler's representation of Robert and Kelly Patterson (the "Pattersons"). The other alleged violations of the DLRPC arising out of Mekler's representation of Gordon C. Garvine, III ("Garvine").
On March 19, 1994, the ODC filed two additional Petitions for Discipline against Mekler. These petitions arose out of Mekler's various scheduling and attendance problems in connection with Family Court and Superior Court proceedings. The ODC consolidated these four Petitions for Discipline, and Mekler agreed to enter into a conditional admission which the Board later approved. *658 The matters involved in all four petitions have been presented to this Court for review.[1] The facts relevant to each of the charges before the Board are summarized below.
The facts relating to the Patterson matter are complex and the discussion of those facts in the Report is extensive. The findings of the Board are supported by the record. They show that Mekler permitted the Patterson matter to be handled (and mishandled) to a great extent by his law clerk (not a member of the Delaware Bar) and his paralegal. The issues involved, among other actions and inactions of Respondent, the following: findings of falsifying Mekler's signature on pleadings and affidavits, apparently without Mekler's knowledge; disrespect for clients and judges in scheduling; disruption of tribunals; lack of diligence; failure to supervise employees; delays; confusion; and a woeful lack of communication. Some of the excerpts from the Board's findings are as follows:
In 1990, Gordon and Geraldine Garvine and their son Gordy (the "Garvines") retained Mekler to represent Gordy in relation to Family Court proceedings involving a fight in which Gordy was involved. Prior to a scheduled March 26, 1991 case review in Family Court, Mekler applied for a continuance due to scheduling problems. Under the mistaken belief that the continuance had been granted, Mekler informed the Garvines not to attend. As a result, neither Mekler nor the Garvines attended the March 26 case review. Judge Wakefield then issued a judicial disposition stating that Mekler had caused the scheduling problem.
The parties rescheduled the case review for 3:00 p.m. on May 3, 1991. Although Judge Wakefield and the Garvines were present at the proper time, Mekler, who was attending a call of the calendar in Superior Court, was absent, apparently without giving prior notice to Judge Wakefield or the Garvines. Mekler eventually appeared, but he did so only after Judge Wakefield had dismissed the Garvines. Judge Wakefield directed Mekler to file a written explanation of his failure to appear and indicated that the Family Court might impose sanctions directly.
The case went to trial in June 1991, and Gordy was eventually found guilty. The court ordered the Garvines to pay restitution in an amount to be agreed upon by the parties. The Garvines waited for Mekler to communicate to them the amount that they had to pay and the details of payment. Mekler met with opposing counsel and agreed to set restitution at $934. Mekler claims that he mailed this notice to the Garvines on or about September 24, 1991. The Garvines claim that they never received this notice. They made repeated phone calls to Mekler's office over a period of many months but did not hear from him.
The police took Gordy into custody in October 1992 for failure to pay the restitution. The Garvines filed a disciplinary complaint against Mekler as well as a malpractice suit. Gordy admitted during the malpractice suit that the Garvines knew the amount of the restitution to be paid, did not pay it, and thought that they had "got[ten] away with it."
Here, again, the facts are difficult to articulate succinctly, largely because they turn on Mekler's sloppy practices. Excerpts from the conclusions of the Board are illustrative:
In August 1993, Family Court Judges Wakefield, Ableman and Crompton filed disciplinary complaints with the ODC against Mekler in connection with his disruption of the scheduling of various cases in their courts. These complaints were later consolidated as Board Case No. 61, 1993. Judge Wakefield had earlier filed another disciplinary complaint against Mekler on other grounds, and this was docketed as Board Case No. 55, 1993.
The complaints at issue in Board Case No. 61, 1993 arose out of Mekler's involvement in a criminal case before Judge Toliver in the Superior Court. Prior to the start of the case, Mekler asked Judge Toliver to delay its start one day so that he could attend, presumably as a spectator, the United States Senate confirmation hearing for Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who later was confirmed and became Justice Ginsburg. Although Mekler had several cases in the Family Court the following week, he did not foresee *662 any problem with the criminal case conflicting with these other cases.[2]
One day after the case began, opposing counsel applied for another continuance due to a family vacation. Mekler objected strongly, informing Judge Toliver that he was scheduled to appear before Judge Ableman the next week and that if Judge Toliver granted the continuance he would have a major scheduling problem. He did not tell Judge Toliver that he had more than one case scheduled for that week. Judge Toliver met with Judge Ableman and informed her of the delay. Judge Toliver testified before the Board that, had he known of both Mekler's busy court schedule the following week and opposing counsel's vacation plans, he would not have granted Mekler's motion for a delay. Nonetheless, he stated that he did not believe that Mekler tried to mislead him.
With regard to the other pending Family Court cases, Mekler submitted written requests for continuances. In none of these requests to the Family Court did he mention his request to Judge Toliver for a delay in the criminal case in Superior Court. The judges eventually met and discussed the scheduling problems. They came to the conclusion that Mekler had caused the scheduling problems and filed concurrent disciplinary complaints against him. Judge Wakefield also filed another disciplinary complaint against Mekler, arising out of his failure to appear for a scheduled case.
The following are excerpts from the Report:
The Board found that Mekler had violated DLRPC 1.3 and 5.3 in Board Case No. 53, 1992; DLRPC 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4(a) in Board Case No. 6, 1993; DLRPC 1.3, 3.2 and 3.5(c) in Board Case No. 61, 1993; and DLRPC 1.3 and 3.2 in Board Case No. 55, 1993. After both Mekler and the ODC submitted briefs dealing with sanctions, the Board recommended a two-year probation with conditions, coupled with a public reprimand.
Pursuant to Board Rule 9(e), the Board filed the Report to which Mekler filed objections. Although the ODC did not file a document in the nature of a "cross-appeal," it has contested some of the Board's findings in Mekler's favor and urged this Court, in effect, to reverse the Board as to those findings while affirming the others.
This Court must determine whether the record contains substantial evidence to support the Board's findings. In re Agostini, Del.Supr., 632 A.2d 80, 81 (1993). The Court reviews the Board's conclusions of law de novo. In re Figliola, Del.Supr., 652 A.2d 1071, 1074 (1995); In Re Barrett, Del.Supr., 630 A.2d 652, 656 (1993).
The Board determined that Mekler violated DLRPC 1.3 and 5.3, which respectively require each lawyer to "act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client," and to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the lawyer's staff conducts itself in a manner which is compatible with the lawyer's professional obligation. Both Mekler and the ODC challenge the Board's findings. Mekler claims that the Board should not have found him in violation of DLRPC 1.3 or 5.3. The ODC contends that the Board erred when it failed to find that Mekler also violated DLRPC 1.4(a) and (b), 1.5(a), 3.3(a)(4) and 8.4(d).
Mekler contends that the facts do not support a finding that he violated any disciplinary rules. He claims that his inaction was reasonable under these circumstances and that he had adequately supervised his employees.
DLRPC 1.3 requires that lawyers act in a diligent fashion when representing clients. The record reflects that the Pattersons discussed their situation with Rassman in February 1992 and that Rassman filed the Petition shortly thereafter. Mekler did not look at the Pattersons' file until July 1992, a period of about five months. When he finally did review the file in July, he told the Pattersons that the course of action Rassman had implemented was incorrect. The Board *664 found that the five-month period between the filing of the Petition and Mekler's review of the Patterson file was evidence of a lack of diligence.
Mekler claims that, because he did not miss a deadline before the Family Court, his delay in reviewing the Pattersons' file was "reasonable under the circumstances." Mekler's argument is unpersuasive. As the Board noted in its well-reasoned report, although the Pattersons failed to give Mekler's office accurate information at their initial consultation, "a prompt review of the Court records by Mekler would have revealed [the weakness of the Pattersons' claim] and there appears to be no excuse for not discovering these facts from the Court records prior to July of 1992, approximately five months after the initial consultation." Report at 12-13 (Mar. 16, 1995). Mekler's delay in reviewing the Pattersons' file caused this matter to drag on unnecessarily for five months. The Board's finding that Mekler violated DLRPC 1.3 is supported by substantial evidence.
DLRPC 5.3 requires that a lawyer supervise his or her staff to ensure that the staff's actions and work product conform to ethical and legal standards. In this case, LePore testified that Rassman, rather than Mekler, signed the Pattersons' Petition and that she falsely notarized it. LePore also testified that Mekler gave her direct authority to sign his name.
Mekler argues that: (1) due to personal problems between Mekler and LePore, LePore might have purposefully misled the Board during testimony; and (2) he had specifically informed his staff prior to the Patterson incident not to sign his name to court documents. Although Mekler and LePore may have had personal problems, there is nothing to indicate that she did not testify truthfully before the Board. Further, LePore testified that, despite Mekler's warning to his staff not to sign his name to court documents, he told her that she nonetheless had authority to do so. Although Mekler was required to make only a reasonable effort to ensure that his staff conformed to professional guidelines, it appears that his behavior did not conform to this requirement. Therefore, the Board did not err when it found that LePore's and Rassman's signing of Mekler's name to two documents filed with the Family Court showed that Mekler did not satisfy DLRPC 5.3 in supervising his staff.
This Court is not precluded from reviewing a finding of the Board in favor of a respondent in a disciplinary proceeding, even though the ODC has not "cross-appealed" the refusal of the Board to find a violation. It is the exclusive responsibility of this Court to supervise, regulate and discipline members of the Delaware Bar. In re Appeal of Infotechnology, Inc., Del.Supr., 582 A.2d 215, 218 (1990). The Respondent in a disciplinary matter does not appeal. Here, Meckler filed objections to the Report of the ODC. Accordingly, the Court is not bound by the failure of ODC to assert error in the Board's finding.[3] Here, however, the issue is moot because we sustain the Board's findings in Mekler's favor and reject on the merits the ODC's arguments to the contrary.[4]
DLRPC 1.4(a) and (b) provide that a lawyer shall keep clients reasonably informed about the status of a matter and discuss the matter with the clients. Although Mekler did not review the Pattersons' file until five months had passed since their initial visit, the record reflects that Mekler's office did keep the Pattersons informed about their child support case. The Pattersons met with Mekler's law clerk, Rassman, on several occasions and discussed the matter with him. Additionally, Mekler did meet with the Pattersons well before any action was scheduled before the Family Court, discussed strategies and explained available options. While Mekler's actions in delegating improperly may be the subject of other contentions of disciplinary violations, there does not appear to be clear and convincing evidence of a violation sufficient to overturn the Board's findings related to these alleged violations of the DLRPC.
DLRPC 1.5 prohibits lawyers from charging a client an unreasonable fee. Here the Board's finding that the total time recorded on the Pattersons' final bill, as well as the total of fees charged, was not unreasonable is supported by the evidence. As the Board noted, this matter could have been handled more efficiently and more diligently, resulting in a lower bill, but Mekler did not charge the Pattersons exorbitant fees for the work done. Hence, the Board's determination that DLRPC 1.5 was not violated is supported by the record.
The ODC contests the Board's finding that Mekler did not violate DLRPC 3.3(a)(4), which prohibits a lawyer from offering evidence to a tribunal which the lawyer knows to be false. The record shows that Mekler did not know that his name had been signed without his authority on any of the Patterson documents submitted to Family Court until well after the case had been closed. Although Mekler should have informed the Family Court of the unauthorized signatures, and his failure to do so is unprofessional,[5] it is not necessarily a violation of Rule 3.3(a)(4). We are unable to hold that the Board erred when it found that there was no clear and convincing evidence to support a holding that Mekler knowingly submitted false evidence to the Family Court.
DLRPC 8.4(d) provides that a lawyer shall not engage in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. Although the motion to withdraw was falsified by LePore, it achieved the Pattersons' objectives and removed the matter from the Family Court. Though the falsified affidavit was improper conduct by Mekler's staff, the Board's determination that the submission of the falsified document did not prejudice the administration of justice is supported by the record.
It is important to understand the distinction between conduct which violates disciplinary rules of the DLRPC and conduct which is "unprofessional." Professionalism includes, but is not limited to, compliance with the ethical rules embodied in the DLRPC. Professionalism goes beyond the minimum standards "required of all lawyers... professionalism is a higher standard expected of all lawyers." The Honorable Harold G. Clarke, Chief Justice (Retired), Supreme Court of Georgia, State Bar Journal of Georgia (May 1989) (emphasis in original). The Preamble to the DLRPC provides, in part:
Professionalism embodies an attitude and a dedication to civility, skill, businesslike practices and a focus on service, rather than making money. Professionalism will often be rewarded materially.
Seth Rosner, Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism, "Professionalism and Money: A Matter of Priorities," The Professional Lawyer 9-11 (May 1993); see also E. Norman Veasey, "Professionalism and Pragmatism  The Future," Delaware Lawyer, at 13 (Winter 1993).
In the Garvine case, the Board found that Mekler violated DLRPC 1.4(a), 1.3 and 1.1, which respectively require a lawyer reasonably to inform clients about the status of a matter, act with reasonable diligence, and provide competent representation to clients. As with Board Case No. 55, 1992, both Mekler and the ODC challenge the Board's findings. Mekler claims that the Board should not have found him in violation of DLRPC 1.4(a), 1.3 or 1.1. The ODC contends that the Board erred when it found that Mekler did not violate DLRPC 1.4(b), 3.4(c), 3.5(c) and 8.4(d).
The Board sanctioned Mekler for violating DLRPC 1.4(a), 1.3 and 1.1, relying in part on Mekler's alleged failure to inform the Garvines of the Consent Order on restitution. Mekler claims that the record shows that he did inform the Garvines of the Consent Order. We find that there is ample evidence to support the Board's findings to the contrary.
It is undisputed that Mekler erroneously believed that he had secured a continuance for the Garvines and so informed them. As a result of this misbelief, neither the Garvines nor Mekler appeared before Judge Wakefield at the first scheduled case review. Nor did Mekler appear before Judge Wakefield at the second case review or communicate with either the court or the Garvines regarding his inability to appear. These facts clearly show violations of: Rule 1.4(a) (a failure to inform the Garvines of the status of their case); Rule 1.3 (a lack of diligence); and Rule 1.1 (a lack of preparation bearing on competence).
Notwithstanding the Board's findings concerning DLRPC 1.4(a), 1.3 and 1.1, the ODC argues that the Board should have found that Mekler violated 1.4(b), 3.4(c), 3.5(c) and 8.4(d).
DLRPC 1.4(b) requires a lawyer to explain properly a legal matter to his or her client. There is no evidence to support a finding that Mekler violated this rule. In fact, the evidence shows that Mekler met with the Garvines briefly, explained the matter to them, urged them to settle, and that the Garvines disregarded his advice. The Board did not err when it did not find a violation of Rule 1.4(b).
With regard to DLRPC 3.4(c), the Board found that Mekler did not knowingly disregard an obligation to the tribunal. There is no evidence demonstrating that the Board erred. Although Mekler obviously erred when he thought that the court had granted his motion for a continuance, it appears that this erroneous belief was based on unprofessional office procedures rather than *667 any knowing or willful attempt to disregard an obligation to a tribunal. Likewise, the Board's finding that Mekler did not violate 3.5(c) by intentionally engaging in conduct to disrupt a tribunal is supported by the same evidence.
The ODC's only possible meritorious claim is that the Board erred when it found that Mekler did not violate DLRPC 8.4(d). That rule prohibits lawyers from engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. Twice failing to appear before a tribunal at the appropriate time is clearly unprofessional. In a given case, it could be found to be a violation of DLRPC 8.4(d) since such conduct can be disruptive and a waste of the court's time and resources. Under the circumstances of this case, however, we do not find that the Board erred in concluding that the record does not establish by clear and convincing evidence that Mekler's unprofessional conduct violated the rule.
The Board found that Mekler was not diligent in his handling of his cases, did not expedite litigation and engaged in conduct that disrupted the tribunal. These findings stemmed from Mekler's conduct with regard to his appearance before Judge Toliver in Superior Court and his subsequent appearances before Judges Ableman, Crompton and Wakefield in Family Court. Mekler disputes the Board's findings on the ground that his request for a delay in the Superior Court proceedings was not the sole cause of his scheduling problems. Rather, he claims it was merely a contributing factor and that he should not have been found to have violated DLRPC 1.3, 3.2 or 3.5(c).
While it is true that Mekler's request was not the sole cause of his subsequent scheduling problems, his lack of complete candor to Judges Toliver, Ableman, Crompton and Wakefield certainly was a contributing factor. Although Mekler did not lie to any of the judges, he was not candid in that he selectively edited the content of what he did tell them. He told Judge Toliver that he had one case in Family Court on the Monday morning following his Superior Court case. He did not tell Judge Toliver that he had a packed schedule that week,[6] with four cases before the Family Court on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Nor did he inform the other judges of the reason why he was requesting continuances.
Further, in Board Case No. 55, 1993, he failed to notice that a case pending before Judge Wakefield was removed from his schedule due to his client's desire not to pursue it. As a result, he did not move to withdraw the action and thus wasted the court's time and resources. There is substantial evidence to support the Board's findings that Mekler violated these Rules of the DLRPC.[7]
The Board suggested that this Court impose a sanction requiring:
This sanction is similar to the one that the parties originally entered into as part of Mekler's conditional admission. That sanction eventually was disapproved by this Court. In re Mekler, Del.Supr., No. 305, 1994, Walsh, J. (Sept. 16, 1994) (ORDER).[8] The ODC contends that, while this sanction is satisfactory if the Court finds that Mekler violated only those DLRPC cited by the Board, it is too lenient if the Court finds violations of all DLRPC that the ODC contends are implicated. In our view, it is too lenient and inappropriate on the basis of the findings of the Board which we have approved.
"This Court has exclusive authority and wide latitude in determining disciplinary sanctions over lawyers." In re Figliola, Del. Supr., 652 A.2d 1071, 1076 (1995) (citing In re Agostini, Del.Supr., 632 A.2d 80, 81 (1993)). Therefore, while the Board's recommendations regarding sanctions are often helpful, the Court is not bound by these recommendations and can impose sanctions which it deems appropriate.
When deciding upon the appropriate sanction the Court must consider that "[t]he primary purpose of disciplinary proceedings is `to protect the public; to foster public confidence in the Bar; to preserve the integrity of the profession; and to deter other lawyers from similar misconduct.'" Id. (quoting Agostini, 632 A.2d at 81). The lawyer discipline system was not designed to be either punitive or penal in nature. In re Rich, Del.Supr., 559 A.2d 1251, 1257 (1989).
The Court appraises four factors when considering an appropriate sanction: (i) the nature of the duty violated; (ii) the lawyer's mental state; (iii) the actual/potential injury caused by the misconduct; and (iv) the existence of aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Figliola, 652 A.2d  at 1076.
We have weighed all the foregoing and we find that the duties violated went beyond sloppiness and unprofessional practices. We further find that Mekler's conduct constituted gross negligence and exhibited an attitude of indifference toward his professional obligations. The injuries to clients were extraordinary inconvenience and discourtesy, but did not clearly result in irreparable or severe damage. Mekler's extremely busy practice is not a mitigating factor. The practice of law is not to be conducted in the nature of a street fair or bazaar. It is incumbent upon this Court, the Board and the ODC to be certain that each lawyer's practice is conducted in conformity with the DLRPC.
Most of Mekler's problems stem from a poorly organized office as well as personal disorganization. The record before the Board shows that on several occasions during his twenty-three years of practice, Mekler has been disciplined (including public and private sanctions) for organizational problems.
It is now appropriate to turn to Mekler's prior record and to consider all aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Mekler and the ODC entered into a Stipulation before the Board regarding the aggravating and *669 mitigating circumstances. That Stipulation, which we accept for purposes of this Opinion, is, in pertinent part, as follows:
After considering the nature of the violations before us and the aggravating and mitigating factors, we have concluded that the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors in view of Mekler's disciplinary history and his failure to make appropriate and timely responses to multiple private and public sanctions over the course of his career. Accordingly, the sanction of a one-year suspension is appropriate. See In re Tos, Del. Supr., 576 A.2d 607 (1990) (one-year suspension for various violations involving lack of diligence and promptness in handling client matters).[10]
The conditions for reinstatement should include specific remedial measures relating directly to Mekler's lack of organizational skills and insensitivity to professional obligations. This is necessary in view of the need to assure that Mekler will take further and effective measures, beyond those noted in the list of mitigating factors, to organize and supervise his office. Mekler will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after completion of the one-year suspension and after "produc[tion] [of] clear and convincing evidence of professional rehabilitation, fitness to practice, and competence," In re Reed, Del. Supr., 584 A.2d 1207, 1209 (1990) (interpreting Rule 23 of Rules of Board on Professional Responsibility) (emphasis omitted), as well as a showing "that the resumption of the practice of law within Delaware will not be detrimental to the administration of justice," Bd. Prof.Resp.R. 23(f).
The conduct of the members of the Bar must meet reasonable professional standards so that the public is appropriately served by and protected from any member of the Bar *671 of this Court who (like Mekler in this case) operates his or her practice in a sloppy, grossly negligent and disrespectful manner in disregard of minimal professional expectations. It is the exclusive responsibility of this Court to preserve the integrity of the Bar. Accordingly, THE JUDGMENT OF THIS COURT IS AS FOLLOWS:
(1) Respondent shall be prohibited and suspended from engaging in the practice of law for a period of not less than one year, beginning not later than January 1, 1996 and ending upon his reinstatement, for which application may be made after December 31, 1996.
(2) During the suspension, Respondent shall conduct no act directly or indirectly constituting the practice of law (including the sharing or receipt of any legal fees).
(3) Respondent shall comply with the provisions of Rule 24 of the Rules of the Board on Professional Responsibility.
(4) Respondent shall arrange with another member or members of the Delaware Bar to protect the interests of any of his clients during the period of suspension, and shall submit to this Court on or before March 1, 1996, a certificate of compliance with this paragraph, co-signed by the attorney or attorneys who have undertaken such assignment.
(5) As a condition of reinstatement, Respondent must comply with the following:
(6) This Opinion shall be disseminated by Disciplinary Counsel in accordance with Rule 3 and Rule 14 of the Rules of the Board on Professional Responsibility.
[1]  This Court rejected Mekler's conditional admission based on a finding that such a resolution was inappropriate, and remanded the case to the Board for disposition. In re Mekler, Del.Supr., No. 305, 1994, Walsh, J. (Sept. 16, 1994) (ORDER).
[2]  Indeed, opposing counsel in the criminal case agreed to the one-day delay even though he had a Family Court case scheduled to begin at the same time as Mekler's.
[3]  The Rules of the Board on Professional Responsibility provide that this Court review the Board's findings "pursuant to the rules governing civil appeals in the Supreme Court, with the respondent deemed the appellant." R.Bd.Prof. Resp. 9(e). The rules governing civil appeals ensure that "absent a cross-appeal, the appellee may not attack the judgment of the court below with a view to enlarging its own rights or lessening the rights of its adversary." Mann v. Oppenheimer &amp; Co., Del.Supr., 517 A.2d 1056, 1060 (1986). Although the scope of Rule 9(e) is not clear with respect to the necessity for the ODC cross-appeal in a disciplinary matter where this Court is reviewing a report of the Board, we construe the rule narrowly as a housekeeping rule relating to the sequencing of briefs and the like, rather than a rule which would limit this Court's supervisory role in reviewing de novo the entirety of the Board's action.
[4]  Under the new Rule 9(e), not applicable in this case, the ODC has the right to file objections to the Board's report in the same manner as a respondent. Nevertheless, even if the ODC fails to file objections, this Court has the power of plenary review.
[5]  See Section II(C)(3), infra.
[6]  Judge Toliver testified that, while he did not think that Mekler lied to him or tried to mislead the court, he would not have granted Mekler's motion for a continuance if he had known of the extent of Mekler's Family Court schedule or of opposing counsel's vacation plans.
[7]  The ODC also contends that the Board erred when it found that Mekler had not violated other DLRPC. We find the ODC's argument to be without merit.
[8]  For example, it is plainly ironic and inappropriate to require one whose conduct is as unprofessional as Mekler's has been found to be to give educational seminars and write articles about ethical practices.
[9]  The Censor Committee was the precursor to the Board.
[10]  Cf. In re Kennedy, Del.Supr., 503 A.2d 1198 (1985) (history of repeated violations); In re Ryan, Del.Supr., 498 A.2d 515 (1985) (altering letter to state securities agency); In re Frabizzio, Del.Supr., 498 A.2d 1076 (1985) (false settlement sheets).
[11]  It is to be noted, with the utmost regret, that the Honorable Jean Ashe Crompton is deceased. Also, Judge Robert W. Wakefield has retired. This condition, as it applies to Judge Crompton and Judge Wakefield, may be fulfilled by a letter of apology to the Family Court through its Chief Judge, The Honorable Vincent J. Poppiti.