Opinion ID: 2615610
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: a one-year suspension is an appropriate sanction for respondent's past professional misconduct

Text: ¶ 15 The primary purpose for imposing professional discipline is not to punish the offender but to protect the public by inquiring into the offender's continued fitness to practice law. [20] Imposition of discipline is designed to foster these aims rather than to be a purely punitive measure imposed for a lawyer's misconduct. Mitigating circumstances may be considered in arriving at the assessment of appropriate measure of discipline. [21] ¶ 16 While the PRT recommends that respondent's license be suspended for one year and that the costs of these proceedings be assessed against him, the Bar suggests that respondent's misconduct warrants more severe discipline. It contends that the appropriate discipline is two years and one day. Stutsman urges that we visit a private reprimand or public censure. ¶ 17 As for mitigating factors, we are informed that respondent has been a member of the bar for eighteen years and has no record of prior discipline. He admitted his wrongdoing and expressed remorse. He has cooperated fully with the Bar and with the PRT throughout the course of the disciplinary proceedings. Once his conversion of the funds was discovered, respondent tendered to the firm full reimbursement be -fore a grievance was filed. [22] ¶ 18 Stutsman's professional misconduct stems from one incident. Upon de novo review, the court finds clear and convincing evidence that respondent committed the violations charged. Following the PRT's recommendation, the court orders that respondent's license to practice law be suspended for one year and directs that he pay the costs of this proceeding in the sum of $910.41. ¶ 19 RESPONDENT'S LICENSE TO PRACTICE LAW IS ORDERED SUSPENDED FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AND HE IS DIRECTED TO PAY THE COSTS OF THIS PROCEEDING, WHICH SHALL BE DUE NOT LATER THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THIS OPINION BECOMES FINAL. ¶ 20 SUMMERS, C.J., HARGRAVE, V.C.J., and LAVENDER, HODGES and KAUGER, JJ., concur; ¶ 21 SIMMS, ALMA WILSON and WATT, JJ., concur in part and dissent in part. SIMMS, J., with whom WATT, J., joins, concurring in part and dissenting in part. ¶ 1 I concur in discipline but would administer a more severe punishment.