Opinion ID: 1293209
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Petitioner's Criminal Acts

Text: (2) Petitioner argues that his conviction under Penal Code section 12025 does not involve misconduct warranting discipline because the misconduct has no nexus to the practice of law, the misconduct was the result of petitioner's alcoholism from which he has now recovered, and the misconduct was related to marital difficulties which have now been resolved. These contentions lack merit. In In re Otto (1989) 48 Cal.3d 970, 971-972 [258 Cal. Rptr. 383, 772 P.2d 558], we recently concluded that the facts and circumstances of an attorney's conviction of Penal Code sections 245, subdivision (a) (assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury), and 273.5 (infliction of corporal punishment on a cohabitant of the opposite sex resulting in a traumatic condition), constituted misconduct warranting discipline. The facts and circumstances surrounding petitioner's plea of nolo contendre are similar in nature to those in In re Otto, supra, 48 Cal.3d 970. Here, the record demonstrates that petitioner repeatedly engaged in acts of physical violence toward his wife and toward others. Further, the record clearly indicates that petitioner's violent conduct arose from his repeated abuse of alcohol. Although the incidents in question did not arise out of petitioner's legal activities and the violence was not directed at his clients or his clients' legal adversaries, those facts do not preclude the State Bar from taking appropriate disciplinary action to prevent petitioner's uncontrolled consumption of liquor from affecting his practice of law. When, as here, the State Bar finds that an attorney's alcoholism has led him to engage in violent criminal conduct, the State Bar need not wait until the attorney injures a client or neglects his legal duties before it may impose discipline to ensure the protection of the public. While evidence that the attorney has taken steps to deal with his alcohol problem is mitigating evidence that may properly be taken into account in determining the degree and nature of the discipline that should be imposed, such evidence does not eliminate the initial misconduct as an appropriate basis for discipline.