Opinion ID: 1774377
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: This consolidated case has three parts. The first part (No. 91-B-00315) concerns an original appeal of a judgment of disbarment, made by a Complaint Tribunal of the Mississippi Bar on September 30, 1991. This judgment resulted through Carter's failure to defend himself at the Complaint Tribunal level, resulting in a default judgment. The second part (No. 91-TS-01096) concerns Carter's appeal from the Complaint Tribunal's denial of Carter's Rule 60(b) motion to set aside the Complaint Tribunal's original disbarment judgment. The third part (No. 91-BA-01096 consolidated with 93-BA-00918) concerns the Complaint Tribunal's Motion for Contempt Citation, made to this Court, for Carter's violation of this Court's order suspending him indefinitely from the practice of law. As a result, there are three issues to be addressed, as follows: 1) WAS THE SANCTION IMPOSED UPON CARTER BY THE COMPLAINT TRIBUNAL FOR 91-BA-1096, DISBARMENT, EXCESSIVE, OR WOULD THE 20 MONTH PERIOD OF SUSPENSION WHICH CARTER SERVED BE ADEQUATE AND SUFFICIENT IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS? 2) DID THE COMPLAINT TRIBUNAL ERR IN DENYING CARTER'S MOTION FOR DEFAULT ON HIS ORIGINAL DISBARMENT? 3) WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE PENALTY, ASSUMING CARTER'S DEFAULT JUDGMENT IS UNANSWERED, FOR CARTER'S PRACTICE OF LAW, WHILE UNDER SUSPENSION BY ORDER OF THIS COURT?