Opinion ID: 1529938
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Facts Pertaining to Violations

Text: Respondent, a sole practitioner with an office in her residence, was admitted to practice in the District of Columbia on June 16, 1980. She testified that, as of the date of the hearing, she represented between thirty and fifty clients under the CJA program. (II, p. 55) [1] The events giving rise to this matter related to Respondent's representation of a CJA client charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. A status hearing in the case was scheduled for 9:00 a.m., December 6, 1991, before Judge Harriett Taylor. Respondent previously had discussed with Judge Taylor the possibility of entering a plea on behalf of her client. Early in the morning of December 6, 1991, two of the Respondent's dogs were injured in a fight, one more severely than the other. Respondent informed Judge Taylor's clerk by telephone that she had a medical emergency, and would be unable to appear in Court at 9 a.m. She stated she would be at home at 11 o'clock, and provided the clerk with her telephone number. Respondent then took both dogs to a veterinarian, where they were treated for their injuries. She left one there, and brought the other back to her home. At about 11:15 a.m., the clerk informed Respondent by telephone that she was required to appear in court at 2 o'clock that afternoon. Respondent apparently had difficulty locating a dog sitter, and did not leave her home until 2 o'clock, traveling by public transportation. She reached Judge Taylor's Court at 2:35 p.m., by which time the Court was in recess. Judge Taylor issued an order requiring Respondent to show cause why she should not be held in contempt of court. Following a hearing, during which Respondent was given a full opportunity to explain her tardiness, Judge Taylor held her in contempt and imposed a $150 fine. Respondent failed to pay the fine within the time limit prescribed, and was fined an additional $150, the second order providing also for incarceration for a period of ten days if the fine was not timely paid. A copy of the complaint filed by Judge Taylor was sent by Bar Counsel to Respondent at her home address on March 25, 1992. Bar Counsel requested a response by no later than April 4, 1992. No response was received. Respondent telephoned the Office of Bar Counsel on April 7, 1992, and requested an extension until April 21 to respond. The request was granted; however, no response was received. On April 30, 1992, Bar Counsel sent a letter to Respondent requesting a response to the complaint by May 5, 1992. No response was received. Thereafter, Bar Counsel filed and served a motion to compel the filing of a response by Respondent. No opposition was filed, and no response to the motion was received from Respondent. On June 4, 1992, at the request of Bar Counsel, the Board on Professional Responsibility issued an order which required Respondent to respond to the motion to compel within 10 days. The order was personally served on July 2, 1992. No response to the Board's order was received.