Court Opinion

ID: 9537219
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:14:25.432123+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:56:12.161826
License: Public Domain

PANELLI, J.
I respectfully dissent. Petitioner’s conduct warrants discipline but, in my view, the record falls far short of supporting suspension for a full six months. I base my conclusion on the following: (1) Petitioner, as a member of the State Bar since 1974, has had a good reputation in the legal community and is respected by judges and lawyers in his community; (2) he has no prior record of discipline; (3) petitioner did not commingle funds in August 1982 within the meaning of Rules of Professional Conduct, rule 8-101; (4) petitioner lacked the intent to deceive or defraud in the Gonzalez matter; and (5) petitioner, although his representation may not have been competent, did not withdraw from that representation in the Hernandez matter. In light of these considerations, a six-month actual suspension strikes me as an unduly harsh response to petitioner’s conduct.
Broussard, J., concurred.