Opinion ID: 1385256
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Burden of Proof at the Hearing

Text: The Committee is required to prove its allegations against an attorney at law by clear and convincing evidence. In Syllabus Point 1 of Committee on Legal Ethics v. Burdette, 191 W.Va. 346, 445 S.E.2d 733 (1994), we stated the following well established burden of proof: ``In a court proceeding initiated by the Committee on Legal Ethics of the West Virginia State Bar to annul [or suspend] the license of an attorney to practice law, the burden is on the Committee to prove, by full, preponderating and clear evidence, the charges contained in the Committee's complaint.' Syllabus Point 1, Committee on Legal Ethics v. Pence, [___] W.Va. [___], 216 S.E.2d 236 (1975). Syl. pt. 1, Committee on Legal Ethics v. Tatterson , [173] W.Va. [613], 319 S.E.2d 381 (1984).' Syllabus Point 1, Committee on Legal Ethics v. Tatterson, 177 W.Va. 356, 352 S.E.2d 107 (1986). In Committee on Legal Ethics v. White, 189 W.Va. 135, 138, 428 S.E.2d 556, 559 (1993), which involved a situation in which an attorney at law pled guilty to possession of illicit drugs, we stated: Where there has been a final criminal conviction, proof of ethical violations is controlled by Syllabus Point 2 of Committee on Legal Ethics v. Six, 181 W.Va. 52, 380 S.E.2d 219 (1989): `Where there has been a final criminal conviction, proof on the record of such conviction satisfies the Committee on Legal Ethics' burden of proving an ethical violation arising from such conviction.'