Opinion ID: 1508286
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 25

Heading: shearin's discipline suspension appropriate sanction

Text: The inherent and exclusive authority for disciplining members of our Bar is vested in this Court. See In re Green, Del. Supr., 464 A.2d 881, 885 (1983). The Court has wide latitude in determining the form of discipline to be imposed. See Matter of a Member of the Bar, Del.Supr., 226 A.2d 705, 707 (1967). In imposing sanctions, the Court is guided by its prior precedents. [3] See In re Christie, Del.Supr., 574 A.2d 845, 853 (1990). Those prior precedents reflect, inter alia, that this Court has cited, with approval, the ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions. See, e.g., In re Barrett, Del.Supr., 630 A.2d 652 (1993); In re Brewster, Del.Supr., 587 A.2d 1067, 1069-71 (1991); In re Higgins, 582 A.2d at 932; In re Clyne, Del.Supr., 581 A.2d 1118, 1125 (1990). The relevant American Bar Association Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions are 6.12 and 6.22. 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.' In re Figliola, Del.Supr., 652 A.2d 1071, 1076 (1995) citing In re Agostini, Del.Supr., 632 A.2d 80, 81 (1993). The lawyer discipline system was not designed to be either punitive or penal in nature. See In re Rich, Del.Supr., 559 A.2d 1251 (1989). The Court considers 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. See In re Mekler, Del.Supr., 669 A.2d 655, 668 (1995). The Delaware Lawyer's Rules of Professional Conduct are promulgated by this Court to set forth standards of ethical conduct to which all Delaware lawyers must conform to continue to practice law. See Matter of a Member of the Bar, Del.Supr., 257 A.2d 382 (1969). The Preamble to the DLRPC provides, in part: As advocate, a lawyer zealously asserts the client's position under the rules of the adversary system.       A lawyer's conduct should conform to the requirements of the law, both in professional service to client's and in the lawyer's business and personal affairs. A lawyer should use the law's procedures only for legitimate purposes and not to harass or intimidate others. A lawyer should demonstrate respect for the legal system and for those who serve it, including judges, other lawyers and public officials. While it is a lawyer's duty, when necessary, to challenge the rectitude of official action, it is also a lawyer's duty to uphold legal process.