Opinion ID: 1997580
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Chisholm's Exceptions.

Text: Our standard of review, as described above, precludes us from sustaining Chisholm's exceptions. The Hearing Committee, which heard the witnesses and had the opportunity to observe their demeanor, found in Bar Counsel's favor on all of the significant contested issues of fact. Here, as in In re Shillaire, 597 A.2d 913, 916 (D.C.1991), the Board has upheld the findings of the Committee, and these findings turn in substantial part on credibility determinations which we are in no position to second-guess. Moreover, Chisholm's criticisms of the Committee's findings are unpersuasive. His claim that he was not retained to handle an appeal from the deportation order is refuted not only by the testimony which the Committee credited, but also by documentary evidence. [12] Moreover, it offends common sense to suggest that Chisholm could properly represent Morris in his immigration matter without pursuing an appeal from a live deportation order, when such a course of action could, inevitably would, and ultimately did lead to Morris' apprehension and incarceration by INS agents. Chisholm's claim that he could not represent Morris because Morris could not be located is equally implausible. Chisholm acknowledged that he knew Mrs. Morgan's address and telephone number. Having accepted $1,000 for services in the immigration case, Chisholm was surely obliged at least to attempt to locate Morris through his sister. In any event, the Committee found, on the basis of more than adequate evidence, that it was Chisholm who tried to avoid Morris, and not the other way around. Finally, Chisholm's theory that an appeal would have been futile was refuted both by the testimony of a ranking BIA official and of an experienced immigration attorney. Moreover, Chisholm, as we have noted, left a live deportation order intact, and Morris was imprisoned as a result. Chisholm's successor counsel, Riely, successfully sought relief from the deportation order and secured Morris' release after Morris had spent almost three months in custody as a result of Chisholm's abandonment of him. Chisholm cannot seriously argue that he could have done nothing for Morris when something was done for Morris when Riely took over the representation. If Riely was able to obtain Morris' liberty, then appropriate efforts by Chisholm could not have been futile.