Court Opinion

ID: 9660853
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:22:30.738633+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:22.764959
License: Public Domain

AMUNDSON, Justice
(concurring in result).
In my previous writing in this discipline case, In re Discipline of Jeffries, 488 N.W.2d 674, 680 (S.D.1992), I attempted to convince this court that disbarment was not the appropriate discipline for this attorney.
I did not and still do not construe the discipline recommended in my previous writing as permissive. The recommendation of a minimum suspension of one year exceeds the discipline imposed by this court in similar cases by approximately 270 days. One year would seem to be a long time for anyone to be restrained from practicing their profession.
I am again placed in the unenviable position of having to select between two disciplines which are neither totally palatable. Jeffries again displayed at the rehearing on this matter the tremendous strides he continues to take in overcoming his addiction. These rehabilitative efforts undertaken by Jeffries were totally disregarded in our prior decision. I have always taken the position that disbarment in this case was askew. At best, the message being sent at this time is that if you have a problem, seek help for it and follow through with your rehabilitation program, one day at a time, this court will not take those efforts into consideration when deciding on the ultimate discipline.
In conclusion, the discipline being imposed in this case certainly would fall within the definition of what “is stern and not lenient; it is not indulgent but is exacting to the degree that it forewarns young lawyers [or old lawyers] ... of the dangers of usage of a drug such as cocaine.” In re Discipline of Strange, 366 N.W.2d 495, 497-98 (S.D.1985) (Henderson, J., concurring). Stern, not lenient, and not indulgent has now gone from 90 days to 1080 days. I would have to say that this should send a message to the members of the bar. On the other hand, suspension is certainly more appropriate in this case under the established precedent in drug use cases than is disbarment, and is the reason why I can concur in the discipline provided for by the majority. This is certainly not done with intellectual force but for the purpose of avoiding a perceived injustice.