Opinion ID: 2519919
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: respondent's misconduct warrants a public reprimand

Text: ¶ 16 A license to practice law is not conferred for the benefit of the licensee, but for that of the public. [30] The disciplinary process, including the imposition of a sanction, is designed not to punish the delinquent lawyer, but to safeguard the interests of the public, the judiciary, and of the legal profession. [31] Disciplinary sanctions serve not only to deter the offending lawyer from committing similar acts in the future, but also operate to put others on notice that departures from ethical norms will not be tolerated. The disciplinary measure to be imposed upon the offending lawyer should be consistent with the quantum of discipline visited upon other practitioners for similar acts of professional misconduct. [32] ¶ 17 Extant jurisprudence teaches that a lawyer's sexual advances toward a client take advantage of the attorney-client relationship and constitute professional misconduct that will result in disciplinary action against the attorney when the matter is brought to the attention of the Bar. [33] Respondent should not have taken advantage of the professional relationship to approach Mrs. C. in a sexual manner. Because of the status of the attorney-client relationship, whether a lawyer believes an overture of a sexual nature is welcomedor even encouragedby a client in no way excuses the attorney's engaging in unprofessional conduct. [34] ¶ 18 The parties are in agreement concerning discipline and submit that a public censure is warranted for respondent's misconduct. The parties cite to State ex rel. Bar Ass'n v. Sopher [35] and State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Ass'n v. Copeland [36] as precedent for their disciplinary recommendation. [37] Sopher and Copeland establish public censure as the proper disciplinary norm for unprofessional behavior that serves an attorney's personal interest in sexual gratification. We agree with the parties' recommendation. The Bar has a vital responsibility to effect the efficacious transition from what once, regrettably, may have been tolerated, if not indeed accepted, behavior to new standards of professional etiquette. [38] A public reprimand serves here the Bar's goal of giving unmistakable notice of its commitment to the enforcement of new standards.