Opinion ID: 1922235
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Respondent's Representation of Stephen Lamkin

Text: On April 10, 1998, the Respondent entered his appearance as attorney for the defendant in the criminal case of State of Maryland v. Stephen Lamkin, Case No. XXXXXXXXX in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Mr. Lamkin was charged with possession and intent to distribute cocaine. Trial in the Lamkin case was scheduled for November 24, 1998. On that date, the case was assigned to Judge Kathleen O'Ferrall Friedman. On November 24, 1998, the Respondent failed to appear for trial without any explanation or attempt to communicate with the court. Judge Friedman's law clerk called the Respondent's office three times and left messages for him, but the Respondent never called back. Due to the Respondent's absence, the case of State v. Stephen Lamkin was postponed. As of April 22, 1999, the date an Inquiry Panel hearing was held to consider this matter, the Respondent had never contacted Judge Friedman to offer an explanation or apology for his failure to appear at the Lamkin trial on November 24, 1998. The Court concludes that the Respondent, by his acts and omissions while representing Stephen Lamkin, and specifically by his unexplained and unexcused failure to appear for trial in Mr. Lamkin's case, engaged in misconduct as defined in Maryland Rule 16-701 k and that he violated Rules 1.3 and 8.4(d) of the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct.