Opinion ID: 2053809
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Recognition of the Seriousness of the Misconduct

Text: The Board concluded that petitioner had failed to present clear and convincing evidence that he recognized the seriousness of his misconduct. Even though petitioner acknowledged that he engaged in misconduct, the Board found evidentiary support for the Hearing Committee's conclusion that some of petitioner's testimony was equivocal. Petitioner contends that viewed in its entirety, the record supports that he appreciated the wrongfulness of his misconduct. We agree with the concurring members of the Board and with petitioner on this issue. First, petitioner consented to disbarment, acknowledging from the beginning the seriousness of his misconduct and accepting early on the sanctions which followed. Petitioner also acknowledged that his conduct in handling the guardianship estate was not simply technically or ethically wrong, but that it was morally wrong as well. Confronted with the Hearing Committee's perception that he seemed to be reluctant to admit some major aspects of his misconduct, petitioner stated: All I can say is I've had to live with this for over eight years and I've had to think about this .... I hope that my appearance of reluctance is just that, appearance of reluctance. I think that I'm truly remorseful for having done what I've done and if there were any words that I could use or conduct that I could display, I would do that to communicate to you my true feelings. As the Board points out in its report, petitioner acknowledged greater details of his defalcations on cross-examination than on direct. Nevertheless, petitioner also admitted to serious misconduct on direct examination. For example, he acknowledged placing some of the cash belonging to the guardianship estate in his own account, and he stated in that connection, I appreciate the wrongfulness for that act because there was no excuse for doing it. It is the success of Assistant Bar Counsel in eliciting on cross-examination many details of the most serious charges which the Board weighed against petitioner in spite of his admissions. However, we agree with the concurring opinion of the Board's members who concluded that respondent admitted his faults and acknowledged the wrongfulness of his conduct. There is ample evidentiary support that petitioner recognizes the seriousness of his misconduct. [10]