Opinion ID: 1408147
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Opportunity to be heard in McCarty

Text: Triem argues that his right of confrontation and his right to notice and an opportunity to be heard were violated by Bar Counsel's failure to provide him with all communications from McCarty to Bar Counsel before adjudicating the charges against him. When this omission was brought to Bar Counsel's notice, he provided McCarty's January 14 response letter to Triem and gave him a thirty-day extension in which to review it before deciding whether to accept the proposed discipline of a private admonition. Triem was not allowed to respond to this letter to Bar Counsel, however, but was merely given the extension to decide whether to accept the proposed discipline or to go on to the next level of adjudication. Triem rejected the private admonition and formal proceedings were initiated. Triem then had ample opportunity to respond to McCarty's letter before the Area Hearing Committee and the Board. Triem nonetheless contends that his due process rights were violated. [14] Bar Counsel's role in the initial stage of attorney grievances combines investigative and adjudicative functions, but any discipline proposed by Bar Counsel can only be imposed with the consent of the respondent attorney. Alaska Bar R. 22(d), (h). If an attorney does not consent to a private admonition, this discipline is not imposed and the attorney is entitled to a formal hearing. Alaska Bar R. 22(d). If an attorney refuses to stipulate to discipline, the burden of proof is not shifted to the attorney to overcome the pre-educating effect of the Bar's preemptive strike, as Triem contends; rather, the burden of demonstrating misconduct by clear and convincing evidence stays with Bar Counsel. Alaska Bar R. 22(e). When Triem rejected the private admonition he was provided the opportunity to respond to all the evidence against him in the proceedings before the committee and the Board. Therefore, because the Bar Rules provide for a de novo hearing following a proposed private discipline and extend other protections to respondent attorneys, [15] we hold that Triem was afforded ample due process in Bar Counsel's initial evaluation of the McCarty case.