Title: Office of Lawyer Regulation v. Stephen M. Compton
Citation: 2010 WI 112
Docket Number: 2010AP001118-D
State: Wisconsin
Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date: September 8, 2010

2010 WI 112 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
2010AP1118-D 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Stephen M. Compton, Attorney at Law:   
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
        Complainant, 
 
 
v. 
 
Stephen M. Compton,   
         Respondent.   
 
 
 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST COMPTON 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
September 8, 2010   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
        
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
        
 
COUNTY: 
        
 
JUDGE: 
        
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING:         
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
      
 
 
 
 
    2010 WI 112 
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  2010AP1118-D  
 
 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings 
Against Stephen M. Compton, Attorney at Law: 
 
Office of Lawyer Regulation, 
 
          Complainant, 
 
     v. 
 
Stephen M. Compton, 
 
          Respondent. 
 
FILED 
 
SEP 8, 2010 
 
A. John Voelker 
Acting Clerk of 
Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY 
disciplinary 
proceeding.   
Attorney's 
license 
suspended.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   We review a stipulation executed by 
Attorney Stephen M. Compton and the Office of Lawyer Regulation 
(OLR) pursuant to SCR 22.12.1  In the stipulation Attorney 
                     
1 SCR 22.12 provides:  Stipulation. 
(1) The director may file with the complaint a 
stipulation of the director and the respondent to the 
facts, conclusions of law regarding misconduct, and 
discipline to be imposed.  The supreme court may 
consider the complaint and stipulation without the 
appointment of a referee.   
No. 
2010AP1118-D   
 
2 
 
Compton admits that he committed professional misconduct and he 
agrees with the OLR's request that his license to practice law 
in Wisconsin be suspended for a period of two years, commencing 
effective March 16, 2010, the date Attorney Compton's license 
was summarily suspended by this court. 
¶2 
After thoroughly reviewing the matter, we accept the 
stipulation and impose the requested discipline.  Because 
Attorney Compton entered into a comprehensive stipulation prior 
to the appointment of a referee, we do not require him to pay 
the costs of this proceeding. 
¶3 
Attorney Compton was admitted to practice in Wisconsin 
in 1992.  In 2002 Attorney Compton was publicly reprimanded for 
falsely recording the time he worked on a contingency fee case. 
Public Reprimand of Stephen M. Compton, 2002-06.  In 2008 
Attorney Compton's law license was suspended for 60 days for 
misconduct related to failing to supervise an inmate performing 
legal work for him and falsely billing the State Public Defender 
for 
work 
performed 
by 
that 
inmate. 
In 
re 
Disciplinary 
                                                                  
(2) If the supreme court approves a stipulation, 
it shall adopt the stipulated facts and conclusions of 
law and impose the stipulated discipline. 
(3) If the supreme court rejects the stipulation, 
a referee shall be appointed and the matter shall 
proceed as a complaint filed without a stipulation. 
(4) A stipulation rejected by the supreme court 
has no evidentiary value and is without prejudice to 
the respondent's defense of the proceeding or the 
prosecution of the complaint. 
No. 
2010AP1118-D   
 
3 
 
Proceedings Against Compton, 2008 WI 3, 306 Wis. 2d 280, 744 
N.W.2d 78. 
¶4 
Attorney Compton's professional misconduct in this 
matter stems from events culminating in a criminal conviction 
for possession of heroin.  On or about March 7, 2009, law 
enforcement authorities executed a search warrant on the Lake 
Geneva home of K.L.  Attorney Compton was found in a room with 
K.L. despite the fact that K.L. was at the time released on 
felony bond with conditions including that she not have any 
contact with Attorney Compton.  The search revealed cocaine and 
heroin in various locations in the room where K.L. and Attorney 
Compton were found.  The search also revealed cocaine and heroin 
in a vehicle that had been driven by Attorney Compton and parked 
in the garage assigned to K.L.'s residence.  During the search, 
Attorney Compton admitted to law enforcement his use of heroin 
and cocaine.  
¶5 
In March 2009 Attorney Compton was criminally charged 
with possession of narcotic drugs, possession of cocaine, 
possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony bail jumping in 
connection with this incident.  State v. Compton, Walworth 
County Case No. 2009CF102.  Cash bail amounts were set for each 
defendant, and the defendants were ordered to have no contact 
with each other.  
¶6 
On March 8, 2009, Attorney Compton paid cash to bond 
himself out of the Walworth County jail.  K.L. remained in 
custody on a $10,000 cash bail.  On March 11, 2009, D.M. brought 
$10,000 cash to the jail for the release of K.L.  A short time 
No. 
2010AP1118-D   
 
4 
 
later that day, D.M. admitted to law enforcement that Attorney 
Compton had called her and instructed her to go to a specific 
conference room in a hotel in Delavan to pick up a bag 
containing a phone and charger, $10,000 cash, a map to the 
sheriff's department, instructions on what D.M. should tell the 
police if she was questioned, and an additional $500 for D.M. to 
split with K.L.  Attorney Compton's written instructions to D.M. 
included, in part, that D.M. should give the phone to K.L. and 
tell K.L. to use it to call Attorney Compton, and further stated 
"[K.L.] can never say I bailed her out!  Never!" 
¶7 
On October 7, 2009, Attorney Compton pled guilty to 
possession of narcotic drugs (heroin), a class I felony, and 
felony bail jumping, a class H felony.  The misdemeanor criminal 
charges for possession of cocaine and possession of drug 
paraphernalia were dismissed but read in.  Attorney Compton was 
subsequently convicted and the circuit court imposed and stayed 
a prison sentence.  He was placed on probation.  
¶8 
On March 16, 2010, this court summarily suspended 
Attorney Compton's license to practice law in Wisconsin based 
upon Attorney Compton's criminal convictions.  
¶9 
On May 6, 2010, the OLR filed a disciplinary complaint 
in this matter alleging that Attorney Compton committed criminal 
acts that reflect adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or 
No. 
2010AP1118-D   
 
5 
 
fitness as a lawyer in other respects, in violation of 
SCR 20:8.4(b).2  
¶10 In the stipulation Attorney Compton verifies that he 
understands the misconduct allegations against him and his right 
to 
contest 
those 
allegations; 
that 
he 
understands 
the 
ramifications of the requested discipline in the event the court 
accepts the stipulation; that he understands his right to 
consult counsel; and that he is entering into the stipulation 
knowingly and voluntarily.  The stipulation further provides 
that Attorney Compton is admitting his misconduct and agreeing 
to the level of discipline sought by the OLR, namely, a two-year 
suspension of his license to practice law in Wisconsin.  The 
stipulation states further that the parties did not engage in 
plea bargaining or negotiations.   
¶11 With respect to the recommended discipline, the OLR 
considered 
Attorney 
Compton's 
disciplinary 
history, 
court 
precedent, aggravating and mitigating factors under the ABA 
Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, and the particular 
circumstances of this case.  ABA Standard 5.12 provides that 
suspension is generally appropriate when a lawyer knowingly 
engages in criminal conduct that seriously adversely reflects on 
the lawyer's fitness to practice law.  See also In re 
Disciplinary Proceedings Against Schuh, 300 Wis. 2d 149, 730 
                     
2 SCR 20:8.4(b) states it is professional misconduct for a 
lawyer to "commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the 
lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in 
other respects." 
No. 
2010AP1118-D   
 
6 
 
N.W.2d 152 
(2007); 
In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against 
Kanera, 
225 
Wis. 2d 483, 
592 
N.W.2d 636 
(1999); 
In 
re 
Disciplinary Proceedings Against Broadnax, 225 Wis. 2d 440, 59l 
N.W.2d 855 (1999). 
¶12 Here, aggravating factors include Attorney Compton's 
prior disciplinary history, the pattern of misconduct, the 
potential 
vulnerability 
of 
K.L., 
and 
the 
harm 
to 
K.L.  
Mitigating factors include the fact that Attorney Compton has 
been "wholly cooperative in this matter," including entering 
into an agreement admitting his misconduct and agreeing to the 
level of discipline sought by the OLR.  He acknowledged the 
wrongfulness of his conduct and offered to turn in his law 
license.  He voluntarily entered into a drug treatment program 
and has expressed remorse for his conduct.  The court is advised 
that Attorney Compton is undergoing voluntary monitoring and as 
of June 11, 2010, the monitor reported Attorney Compton's 
continued compliance with the requirements of his monitoring 
program.  
¶13 We approve the stipulation and adopt the stipulated 
facts and legal conclusions of professional misconduct.  We 
agree that a two-year suspension is appropriate and consistent 
with this court's past practice.  We further agree that it is 
appropriate to order the suspension to commence on March 16, 
2010, the date Attorney Compton's law license was summarily 
suspended by this court.  The imposition of a two-year 
suspension 
will 
require 
Attorney 
Compton 
to 
complete 
successfully the formal reinstatement process in order to regain 
No. 
2010AP1118-D   
 
7 
 
his license to practice law in Wisconsin.  See SCRs 22.29-22.33.  
In light of the SCR 22.12 stipulation, we do not impose costs. 
¶14 IT IS ORDERED that the license of Stephen M. Compton 
to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of two 
years, effective March 16, 2010. 
¶15 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that to the extent he has not 
already done so, Stephen M. Compton shall comply with the 
provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a person whose 
license to practice law in Wisconsin has been suspended. 
No. 
2010AP1118-D   
 
 
 
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