Court Opinion

ID: 7873828
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 20:58:36.897052+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:31:19.942024
License: Public Domain

TODD, Justice
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. The facts giving rise to this disciplinary proceedings are set forth in detail in our opinion relating to the criminal felony charges of which Olkon was found guilty, State v. Olkon, 299 N.W.2d 89 *197(Minn.1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1132, 101 S.Ct. 954, 67 L.Ed.2d 119 (1981) and need not be restated or summarized. The simple issue before this court is whether an attorney who is presently suspended from the practice of law for commission of two felonies arising out of his law practice and is on probation as a result of the sentences imposed in the criminal proceedings should be reinstated to the practice of law. I can find no justification at this time for granting Olkon the right to practice law at the conclusion of his probationary period. Most of the arguments raised before the referee and adopted by the majority opinion are of the type that properly should be addressed to the sentencing judge in support of a plea for probation in lieu of confinement. These arguments fail to address the obligation imposed on this court to enforce the ethical standards of the legal profession. In the preliminary statement to the Code of Professional Responsibility the following is stated:
* * * The Disciplinary Rules state the minimum level of conduct below which no lawyer can fall without being subject to disciplinary action. Within the framework of fair trial, the Disciplinary Rules should be uniformly applied to all lawyers, regardless of the nature of their professional activities, (emphasis supplied)
I know of no case, nor has such a case been cited in these proceedings, where a lawyer who commits a felony directly related to the practice of law involving dishonesty and fraud has been reinstated to the practice of law while still on probation from the criminal charges which led to the disciplinary proceedings. In my opinion, this court is embarking on a new and dangerous course. It is difficult to conceive how the Board of Professional Responsibility will fulfill its obligations to enforce the Code of Professional Responsibility in light of the wide latitude being adopted by the majority opinion in evaluating the conduct of Mr. Olkon. I would continue the suspension of Mr. Olkon with leave to reapply for admission to practice law no sooner than at the expiration of his probationary period under the criminal charges for which he was found guilty. At that time this court could properly evaluate his conduct. No reason has been advanced that would justify granting an automatic reinstatement at the end of the probationary period. The conduct of Olkon is directly related to the practice of law and thus distinguishes this case from Petition for Discipline of Harold D. Kimmel, Jr., 322 N.W.2d 224 (Minn.1982). Since Olkon is not reentering the practice of law at this time, it appears to me that the action of the majority in granting automatic reinstatement at an undertermined future date does nothing to serve the best interest of the public or the legal profession.