Opinion ID: 2277038
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Subsequent Conduct and Reformation; Present Character

Text: Murray's consent disbarment occurred just over 12 years ago. Since that time, as we have noted, Murray has worked as a paralegal and office manager at a Westminster law firm. See note 1, supra. He has sold his Baltimore County home and acquired a more modest one in Carroll County. This home is unencumbered, and the record indicates that Murray's debts are no more than the normal day-to-day obligations one generally incurs. There are no tax arrearages, as the Attorney Grievance Commission investigation substantiates. Murray has made full restitution of the sums he stole. [6] He has entered into the community life of Carroll County; for example, he serves on the board, and (at the time of the Inquiry Panel hearing in July 1988) was president of Carroll Haven, a charitable organization assisting the mentally retarded. His drinking is no longer a problem. Murray's new lifestyle has been achieved, the record indicates, by strong family efforts. Murray himself explained to the Inquiry Panel: [My wife] and I are able to work together, have worked together, talked to each other, thrashed over any difference.... We have changed our complete lifestyle, we are happy and content with what we're doing, we have no secrets between each other and I feel like a person that, although its been difficult to work through, a person who sort of is an open book. I don't know how to put this, but ... once you've been arrested and booked and indicted and sentenced and investigated, there's not much else left and you feel that something died in your life. Because false pride or some other factor made it difficult for Murray to discuss financial problems with his wife at the time of his thefts, the present relationship between the Murrays is of special significance. In this regard, the Review Board, like the Inquiry Panel, found that Murray has ... developed an open relationship with his wife and revised his lifestyle, resulting in a complete reformation from his former misdeeds. These are the relatively objective facts about Richard Murray's life since disbarment. We, of course, must make a much more subjective judgment about his present character and the completeness of his rehabilitation. We must do so in order to protect the public against any likelihood of future ethical lapses on Murray's part should he be reinstated. Dippel, 285 Md. at 617-618, 403 A.2d at 1239; Barton I, 273 Md. at 381, 329 A.2d at 105. Those who testified before the Inquiry Panel and the even larger numbers of individuals who submitted letters on Murray's behalf had no reservations in this regard. Judges, lawyers, and other citizens  those who had known Murray before disbarment and those who had met him since, but who were acquainted with the facts of the disbarment  were unanimous in their conclusions of complete rehabilitation and present good character. There was no testimony, there were no letters, there was nothing in the Attorney Grievance Commission investigation that even suggested a contrary view. Compare Dippel, in which there was very substantial evidence supporting reinstatement, but also opposing testimony. 285 Md. at 612, 403 A.2d at 1237. Dr. Rappeport's letter of 10 November 1986 foreshadows what others said in 1988. ... I have examined many attorneys who have been in difficulties with the bar because of their behavior, as well as many who have requested readmission after disbarment. I do not recall having evaluated anyone who has been as straightforward and honest as Richard Murray, nor anyone who has appeared to resurrect himself as devotedly as this man. I can find nothing in my evaluation which would lead me to believe that there is any likelihood of a recurrence of the misappropriation of clients' funds or any other illegal act should Mr. Murray be readmitted to the bar. I feel that he has an emotional stability now which he never enjoyed [before,] as well as the constant nagging knowledge of what he did. This, however, is a guilt which has been used as should all guilt  in a constructive fashion. His behavior subsequent to his disbarment has apparently been without blemish and can only be described as that of a responsible, competent citizen. We are aware, of course, of the ease with which a disbarred lawyer may sometimes obtain general endorsements of his present moral character. Dippel, 285 Md. at 618, 403 A.2d at 1240. Nevertheless, we may give weight to those letters, Cory, supra, 300 Md. at 184, 477 A.2d at 276, as may the Inquiry Panel and the Review Board. We, like the Inquiry Panel and the Review Board, also give weight to the sworn testimony before the former body. As we have noted, both the Inquiry Panel and the Review Board, looking at the entire record, unanimously recommended Murray's reinstatement. The latter concluded: Based upon the evidence presented ... [Murray's] present character is above reproach and is of such a nature that he will be an asset to the Bar of Maryland. [Murray's] subsequent conduct, following disbarment, has been exemplary, revealing that he has made a total and complete reformation. While the initial misconduct and circumstances surrounding [it] were egregious, it appears highly unlikely that such conduct would ever again be repeated. [Murray] has demonstrated that he is presently well-qualified and competent to practice law in the State of Maryland. We recognize, too, that we are not bound by findings of the Inquiry Panel or the Review Board. Barton II, 291 Md. at 65, 432 A.2d at 1337. Indeed, in Dippel, we denied Raimondi's reinstatement although both the Inquiry Panel and the Review Board recommended it. 285 Md. at 616-620, 403 A.2d at 1239-1241. Nevertheless, we find their work to be of invaluable assistance. Barton II, 291 Md. at 65, 432 A.2d at 1337. Giving due weight to the findings and to the testimony on which they are based, our task is to determine whether Murray's proof of rehabilitation over the time he has been prohibited from practicing law overcomes the proof of bad character evidenced by his criminal conviction. Cory, 300 Md. at 185, 477 A.2d at 273. See also Dippel, 285 Md. at 618, 403 A.2d at 1239-1240. The record reveals that the past 12 years of Murray's life have been industrious, without discernible blemish that might give cause to question his integrity. Compare, Loker, supra, 285 Md. at 648, 403 A.2d at 1270 (efforts subsequent to disbarment to shield family home and wages from creditors indicative of insufficient reformation). On balance, we conclude that Murray's conduct during the 12 years since his disbarment demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that he is remorseful, fully rehabilitated, and competent to practice law in Maryland. The factors that helped to produce his misconduct no longer exist. We hold that Murray should be reinstated. Accordingly, it is this 7th day of June, 1989, by the Court of Appeals of Maryland ORDERED that Richard C. Murray be and he is hereby reinstated as a member of the Bar of Maryland upon paying the costs of these proceedings and upon taking in open court and subscribing to the oath of attorneys required by Md.Code (1957, 1987 Repl.Vol.), Art. 10, § 10.