Court Opinion

ID: 9782731
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 19:08:30.42176+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:35:08.849662
License: Public Domain

RUCKER, Justice,
dissenting.
Judge Davis, the hearing officer in this case, recommended that Respondent be suspended from the practice of law for a period of six months with all but 30 days suspended to two years probation. The hearing officer further recommended that the terms of probation must include, among other things, fulfilling all requirements of a presently in-place JLAP Monitoring Agreement, complying with the recommendations of Respondent’s mental health professionals, as well as the recommendations of Respondent’s JLAP Mentor/Monitor — Judge Mary Beth Bonaven-tura.
I would accept the hearing officer’s recommendations for at least two reasons. First, although the majority makes much of the fact that Respondent fabricated a document to mislead the Commission, the Commission itself does not ask for more stringent discipline than that recommended by Judge Davis. Second, and more importantly, Judge Davis made a specific factual determination that Respondent’s “mental disability caused the misconduct in this case.” Findings of Fact Number 40 (emphasis added). The Com*1184mission does not contest this determination.
It is certainly the case that this Court is not bound by the recommendation of the hearing officer in a lawyer disciplinary action. However, I can discern no reason to deviate from the recommendations made by Judge Davis here. Therefore I dissent.