Opinion ID: 1592241
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: was the 45-day suspension excessive punishment for the mississippi attorney's misconduct?

Text: It is conceded by the Bar that it has no standard as to what punishment for particular misconduct ought to be and that cases are considered on a case-by-case basis. That is as it should be and we seek to impose no standard here. We held in Mississippi State Bar v. Phillips, 385 So.2d 943 (Miss. 1980), that on appeal this Court reviews the evidence, the law, the findings and conclusions of the Complaint Tribunal, and then renders such order as the Court may find to be appropriate, based upon the entire record. We find that the 45-day suspension is not appropriate based upon the entire record for the misconduct of which this Mississippi attorney is guilty. The punishment is totally disproportionate to the violation. We, therefore, vacate the 45-day suspension and order that the Mississippi attorney receive a private reprimand. PATTERSON, C.J., WALKER and ROY NOBLE LEE, P.JJ., and BOWLING, HAWKINS, DAN M. LEE, and ROBERTSON, JJ., concur. PRATHER, J., not participating.