Opinion ID: 2611440
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Upping the ante

Text: The majority is concerned that by imposing a stiffer sanction after Respondent's appeal from the Commission's recommendation, this court would be upping the ante. I understand the danger of discouraging legitimate appeals and agree that only rarely and in the clearest of situations should we up the ante. Id. But I strongly believe this is one of those situations. Under the applicable version of Rule 53(e), [1] this court is the ultimate trier of fact and law. In re Lincoln, 165 Ariz. 233, 235, 798 P.2d 371, 373 (1990). We have both final authority and responsibility to decide on the appropriate sanction in every bar discipline case. In re Owens, 182 Ariz. 121, 126, 893 P.2d 1284, 1289 (1995); In re Shannon, 179 Ariz. 52, 68, 876 P.2d 548, 564 (1994), modified, 181 Ariz. 307, 890 P.2d 602 (1994). Thus, while we give great deference to the Commission's recommendation, it is our task to decide on the proper sanction required by facts and law, even when it may exceed the Commission's recommendation. The risk that we might up the ante should not surprise Respondent. At every stage, Respondent had notice that the recommended sanction was not set in stone. In fact, the Commission increased the hearing officer's recommendation of censure without probation to censure with probation. Two Commission members, in a written dissent, concluded that suspension was the only acceptable sanction. [2] Because the dissent is part of the Commission's report, Respondent clearly had notice of the possibility of suspension. Respondent argued the issue of the increased sanction recommendation in his initial brief to this court. After reviewing the record and briefs submitted by Respondent and the State Bar, we requested supplemental briefing and oral argument on the specific issue of whether censure or suspension was the appropriate sanction. Thus, Respondent was given notice and an opportunity to be heard on the issue of suspension. There is ample authority for this court to increase a recommended sanction. We have increased the sanction in several previous matters, even those, like the present, in which the lawyer appealed and the bar did not cross-appeal. See Wade, 174 Ariz. at 18, 846 P.2d at 831 (suspension increased to disbarment); In re Hohn, 171 Ariz. 539, 544, 832 P.2d 192, 197 (1992) (continuing legal education increased from eight to twenty hours); In re Spear, 160 Ariz. 545, 556-57, 774 P.2d 1335, 1346-47 (1989) (suspension increased from six months to five years); In re Swartz, 141 Ariz. 266, 278, 686 P.2d 1236, 1247 (1984) (suspension increased from thirty days to six months). [3] The most recent case is noteworthy. In Wade, the Commission increased the recommended sanction from a thirty-day suspension to a two-year suspension. 174 Ariz. at 14, 846 P.2d at 827. On Wade's appeal to this court, after noting that the Commission had not been aware of Wade's prior record at the time it made its recommendation, we held that the offenses warranted the more stringent sanction of disbarment. Id. at 18, 846 P.2d at 831. In both Wade and the present case, the State Bar urged an increased sanction but did not cross-appeal. Wade, like Respondent, claimed that this court's consideration of the increased sanction violated his due process rights. Nevertheless, we held that Wade's misconduct not only violates the confidence vested in him by [his] clients, but brings disrespect upon the legal profession and the justice system as a whole. Id. at 17-18, 846 P.2d at 830-31 (citation omitted). I believe that comment is equally applicable to the present case, in which the Commission's recommendation was based on an erroneous factual conclusion rather than a lack of information.