Opinion ID: 1288964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Seriousness of the Original Misconduct

Text: We have said that present fitness to practice law of an attorney seeking reinstatement must be considered in light of the offenses for which he or she was disbarred. Wegner, 417 N.W.2d at 100. But we have also said that even serious misconduct should not bar reinstatement when the petitioner has undergone the imposed discipline. Kadrie, 602 N.W.2d at 871. We have in the past reinstated attorneys even after they committed serious misconduct. E.g., Wegner, 417 N.W.2d at 99-100 (reinstating an attorney who was convicted of a drug smuggling crime in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 963 (1971)). But here, Mose's misconduct was directly related to his law practice. His failure to communicate with clients, failure to competently handle client matters, and neglect of client matters caused serious consequences for his clients, including adverse rulings and a stayed prison sentence for contempt of court. Mose also committed misconduct in many important family law matters, including child custody and domestic abuse matters. We will therefore consider the seriousness of Mose's misconduct in our reinstatement analysis and consider his present fitness to practice law in light of that misconduct.