Court Opinion

ID: 9444379
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 20:58:48.432109+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:50.776028
License: Public Domain

CHAMBERS, Circuit Judge
(concurring) .
An examination of the record and of the opinion of the trial judge in this case, In the Matter of Lavine, D.C., 126 F. Supp. 39, will indicate that the respondent had notice that he was in trouble, but he didn’t have notice, I take it, that the penalty was to be so severe.
Most of the cases on “off the handle” disbarment carefully recognize that there is an inherent power to disbar an attorney in a proper case, without notice or any other formality, but the cases neglect to describe a “proper case.” Randall v. Brigham, 7 Wall. 523, 74 U.S. 523, 19 L.Ed. 285; In re Claiborne, 1 Cir., 119 F.2d 647. Venturing into the unknown, I suggest that if Morris Lavine had come into court with six-guns at his side and with fingers on triggers demanded that a district judge sign an order, the district judge would have power then and there without formality to disbar Mr. Lavine. And I believe if such a thing had happened here that my associates would agree.
But here it is charged, I assume, that not even yesterday, but last week, Mr. Lavine did not make a fair disclosure to Judge Harrison, the district judge who signed the orders which were vacated by Judge Mathes. In such a case, a sense of fair play, which ordinarily is due process, requires notice of the charges, a chance to prepare for defense and, if found guilty, an opportunity to make representations in mitigation. I don’t think we need to talk of “jurisdiction.”
i am in complete accord with that portion of the majority’s opinion which commends for consideration of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California the Oregon rule on discipline of attorneys,