Opinion ID: 1972166
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: motor vehicle offenses

Text: The cornerstone of Canon 1 is EC 1-5 which provides that: `A lawyer should maintain high standards of professional conduct and should encourage fellow lawyers to do likewise. He should be temperate and dignified, and he should refrain from all illegal and morally reprehensible conduct. Because of his position in society, even minor violations of law by a lawyer may tend to lessen public confidence in the legal profession. Obedience to law exemplifies respect for law. To lawyers especially, respect for the law should be more than a platitude.' Respondent's convictions of three (3) alcohol-related motor vehicle offenses within two and one-half years is conduct which may tend to lessen public confidence in the legal profession, adversely reflects upon his fitness to practice and is prejudicial to the administration of justice. Therefore, such conduct is a violation of DR 1-102(A)(5) and (6).