Opinion ID: 1976880
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Period For Which Suspension Shall Run.

Text: Finally, we consider appellant's argument that, because he has already been under suspension since September 4, 1984, for failure to file proof that he has completed the required number of hours of continuing legal education, any further suspension imposed for the violations contained in the present complaint should be proportionately reduced. In certain cases where the final determination of discipline by this court has been preceded by a period of temporary suspension based on the same violation, we have measured the period of the suspension from the date that the temporary suspension was imposed. See Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct v. Jones, 368 N.W.2d 157, 158 (Iowa 1985); Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct v. Christoffers, 348 N.W.2d 227, 230 (Iowa 1984); Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct v. Halleck, 325 N.W.2d 117, 118 (Iowa 1982). We do not approve that disposition, however, where, as in the present case, the prior period of suspension arose out of a distinctly separate violation. We order that the license to practice law of appellant, Adelbert L. Martin, is hereby suspended for an indefinite period of time, with no possibility of reinstatement for one year from the date of the filing of this opinion. The suspension shall apply to all facets of the practice of law provided, however, that it is not intended to interfere with appellant's operation of the abstracting business currently owned and operated by him. Upon application for reinstatement, appellant shall establish that he has refrained from all facets of the practice of law as designated in Iowa Supreme Court Rule 118.12 and has otherwise complied with those restrictions which our rules place upon suspended attorneys. LICENSE SUSPENDED.