Opinion ID: 2587347
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Purpose of Professional Discipline

Text: ¶ 29 The purpose of professional discipline is twofold: (1) to protect the public, the legal profession, and the justice system, and (2) to deter others from engaging in misconduct. In re Neville, 147 Ariz. 106, 116, 708 P.2d 1297, 1307 (1985); In re Swartz, 141 Ariz. 266, 277, 686 P.2d 1236, 1247 (1984). Public confidence in the State Bar is vital. See In re Loftus, 171 Ariz. 672, 675, 832 P.2d 689, 692 (1992). ¶ 30 Nonetheless, the Commission's duty to assure public confidence is met with the concomitant responsibility to show fairness to Scholl. See In re Savoy, 181 Ariz. 368, 372, 891 P.2d 236, 240 (1995) (the sanction must be fair and appropriate to the infraction). Here, Scholl is already required by the terms of this court's prior order to inform his clients of the felony convictions. See supra note 2. In addition, Scholl's conduct is also restricted by the terms of his five-year criminal probation. See supra note 1. ¶ 31 Consequently, while the Commission is attempting to advance a valid objective, we are not persuaded that a suspension of two years is necessary.