Opinion ID: 2293985
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard for Imposing Sanctions

Text: In determining the appropriate sanction for lawyer misconduct, the Delaware Supreme Court has adopted the ABA Standards For Imposing Lawyer Sanctions. (The ABA Standards.) The American Bar Association has developed standards for imposing disciplinary sanctions in which a court considers the following factors: (a) the duty violated; (b) the lawyer's mental state; (c) the actual or potential injury caused by the lawyer's misconduct; and (d) the existence of aggravating or mitigating factors. (ABA Standards For imposing Lawyer Sanctions, Standard 3.0, at 25 (approved February, 1986).) In Re Clyne, 581 A.2d 1118, 1125 (Del.1990). The record establishes that Respondent's conviction for the crimes identified in this report in the State of Maine constitutes clear and convincing evidence of violation of his ethical duties to the legal profession. Although his conduct may not have injured a specific client, his conduct was such that he demonstrated a knowing disregard for his ethical duty and disregard for the law which seriously undermines the legal profession and reflects adversely on all members of the legal profession and, particularly, members of the Bar of the State of Delaware. Though Respondent may have had a recognizable cognitive defect at the time, the Board finds that there was no evidence presented that specifically diagnosed the condition in January or February, 2006 when the crimes were committed and there was no evidence presented in the record which opined with a reasoned medical probability that as a result of the cognitive defect, Respondent's mental state was such that he did not commit the crime knowingly or intentionally. Thus, the Board must accept the fact that Respondent pled guilty to the crimes. On March 15, 2007, the Respondent appeared before the Honorable Ellen A. Gorman, Superior Court Justice of the Superior Court of the State of Maine, and entered guilty pleas. Justice Gorman at the conclusion of questioning of Respondent concerning the various counts stated: Based upon (Respondent's) answers to my questions, I am satisfied that his pleas are knowing and voluntary. (ODC Exh. 6, p. 18.)