Opinion ID: 1953270
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Consideration of Subsequent Sanctions

Text: ¶ 18. We discussed a similar issue in the case of Hall v. Mississippi Bar, 631 So.2d 120, 126-27 (Miss. 1993). In that case, the instances of misconduct which were the subject of the action before the Court preceded the attorney's prior disciplinary sanctions. Hall, 631 So.2d at 126. We stated: Obviously, the validity of considering prior discipline as an aggravating factor is based on the idea that one who violates the Rules again after being disciplined requires a harsher discipline for subsequent misconduct. This is apparently not the case with Hall. As far as the record reflects, his professional conduct has been adequate since his first reprimand in 1990. In simple terms, Hall's previous punishments may have provided the wake-up call he needed. Thus, a strong argument can be made that further discipline is not necessary to accomplish the goals of the Rules of Discipline and would only serve to punish Hall twice for the same basic misconduct... . Had Hall bothered to appear and make this argument, we might be inclined to agree. Id. Because Hall had further demonstrated his general pattern of tardiness and delay by failing to appear before the Complaint Tribunal in 1991, we determined that a second suspension was not overly harsh. Id. at 126-27. ¶ 19. The above argument towards which we expressed some inclination is inapplicable to Mr. Alexander. The record reflects that, unlike Hall's, Mr. Alexander's professional conduct has not been adequate since his first disciplinary sanction. Mr. Alexander's conduct giving rise to the Complaint Tribunal's imposition of discipline in the case sub judice occurred after he had already received four Informal Admonitions, a Private Reprimand and two Public Reprimands for similar conduct. Obviously, these sanctions did not have the effect of providing Mr. Alexander the wake-up call he needed, as is evidenced both by his conduct in this case and by his subsequent federal and state court sanctions. The ordinarily severe sanction of Public Reprimand apparently has had little or no effect on Mr. Alexander's behavior. ¶ 20. Regarding any due process concerns raised by the consideration of subsequent sanctions as an aggravating factor, we note the law as it applies to capital murder cases, where due process rights are most fiercely protected. We have repeatedly held that convictions subsequent to the crime for which a person is being sentenced may be used as proof of aggravating circumstances. Taylor v. State, 672 So.2d 1246, 1275 (Miss.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 117 S.Ct. 486, 136 L.Ed.2d 379 (1996); Turner v. State, 573 So.2d 657, 670 (Miss. 1990), cert. denied, 500 U.S. 910, 111 S.Ct. 1695, 114 L.Ed.2d 89 (1991); Leatherwood v. State, 435 So.2d 645, 651-52 (Miss. 1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1084, 104 S.Ct. 1455, 79 L.Ed.2d 772 (1984); Jones v. State, 381 So.2d 983, 994 (Miss.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1003, 101 S.Ct. 543, 66 L.Ed.2d 300 (1980); Reddix v. State, 381 So.2d 999, 1009-10 (Miss.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 986, 101 S.Ct. 408, 66 L.Ed.2d 251 (1980). If the jury's consideration of subsequent convictions does not offend the defendant's due process rights in capital murder cases, then plainly the same would hold true of our consideration of subsequent sanctions in attorney discipline cases, where our review is de novo. ¶ 21. In Hall, the Bar moved to strike certain portions of Hall's appeal brief which provided mitigation evidence not presented to the Complaint Tribunal. 631 So.2d at 127. We denied the motion, ruling that attorneys in disciplinary appeals can attempt to present mitigation in briefs and oral argument, if granted. Id. Likewise, we grant the Bar's Motion to Supplement the Record with evidence of Mr. Alexander's subsequent disciplinary sanctions and rule that such evidence may be considered as an aggravating factor when determining appropriate disciplinary measures.