Opinion ID: 1096437
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Should the Tribunal have given greater weight and consideration to the opinion and recommendation of Chancellor Stuart Robinson and considered the affidavit of Chancellor W.O. Dillard in determining the appropriate discipline to be imposed?

Text: Goodsell argues that the chancellor viewed Prisock's behavior as being the more egregious: Q: All right, Mr. Prisock. Here again, the greater part of the perjury I would have to say was committed by you because you took the stand as a sworn witness. That doesn't leave Mr. Goodsell implied to the Court that this individual had, in fact, signed this thing and attempted to prove it through you when, based upon what he said, he had to know it was his own signature and not that of Herschel Woodward. But you took the stand and testified that this man came in with a cast on his arm and implied to the Court the reason the signatures were different was because he wrote with his left hand. Actions by other courts or by local bar associations are cumulative to that issued by this Court, including the Tribunal. See Miss.R.Disc. 1(c). The Tribunal does not, as a matter of law, have a duty to defer to the chancellor's opinions. Deference is accorded to the Tribunal's findings. However, whether the Tribunal should have accorded more weight to Chancellor Robinson's opinion becomes less significant since this court has the non-delegable duty of ultimately satisfying itself as to the facts... . Mississippi State Bar v. Varnado, 557 So.2d 558, 559 (Miss. 1990). See also Mississippi Bar v. Attorney R., 649 So.2d 820, 824 (Miss.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct. 2582, 132 L.Ed. 831 (1995). Goodsell attempted to introduce Chancellor Dillard's affidavit to the Tribunal, but the Bar opposed its admission on the ground that they were not given the opportunity to cross-examine. The objection was sustained, and Goodsell proffered Dillard's affidavit into evidence. The gist of that affidavit was that Dillard concurred with Robinson. We can not say with certainty that the Tribunal did not consider the recommendation of Chancellor Robinson as to punishment. We know that they did not consider the recommendation of Chancellor Dillard but it would have been cumulative even if they had. We do know that this Court has considered in its deliberations not only the recommendation of Chancellor Robinson and Chancellor Dillard but also the punishment imposed by Chancellor Robinson and Chancellor Dillard. This assignment is without merit.