Court Opinion

ID: 9926901
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-25 21:05:29.661899+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:33.789867
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

                                  Bar Docket No. 25474

                           In the Matter of ANTHONY R. SMITH,
                                       Respondent.

                               ORDER OF DISBARMENT

       This court admitted Anthony R. Smith to the practice of law in Kansas on
September 28, 2012. The court administratively suspended Smith's license on September
27, 2022, due to his noncompliance with registration and continuing legal education
requirements. See Supreme Court Rule 206(f) (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 257), as amended
effective July 1, 2022 (suspension from the practice of law for failure to comply with
annual attorney registration requirements); Supreme Court Rule 810 (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R.
at 617), as amended effective July 1, 2022 (suspension from the practice of law for
failure to comply with continuing legal education rules).

       On December 20, 2023, Smith's request to voluntarily surrender his license was
submitted to the Office of Judicial Administration under Supreme Court Rule 230(a)
(2023 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 290). At the time, Smith faced a hearing before the Kansas Board
for Discipline of Attorneys on a formal complaint filed by the Disciplinary
Administrator. That complaint alleged Smith had violated Kansas Rules of Professional
Conduct 1.1 (2023 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 327) (competence), 1.3 (2023 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 331)
(diligence), 1.4 (2023 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 332) (communication), 1.16(d) (2023 Kan. S. Ct.
R. at 377) (terminating representation), 8.1(b) (2023 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 431) (failing to
respond to a lawful demand for information), 8.4(d) (2023 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 433) (conduct
prejudicial to the administration of justice), as well as Supreme Court Rule 206(o) (2023
Kan. S. Ct. R. at 260) (duty to update attorney registration information), and Supreme
Court Rule 210(b) (2023 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 263) (duty to timely respond to a request for
information).

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         This court accepts Smith's surrender of his Kansas law license, disbars Smith
pursuant to Rule 230(b), and revokes Smith's license and privilege to practice law in
Kansas.

         The court orders the Office of Judicial Administration to strike the name of
Anthony R. Smith from the roll of attorneys licensed to practice law in Kansas effective
the date of this order.

         The court notes that under Rule 230(b)(1)(C), any pending board proceeding or
case terminates effective the date of this order. The Disciplinary Administrator may
direct an investigator to complete a pending investigation to preserve evidence. The court
further notes that the following fees had accrued and remain unpaid at the time of this
order:
         • The $200 annual registration fee for the 2022-2023 licensing period under Rule
            206(b).
         • The $150 late fee due for failure to pay the annual registration fee for the
            2022-2023 licensing period under Rule 206(e).
         • The $75 fee due for noncompliance with continuing legal education
            requirements under Rule 809(c) (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 617).

         Finally, the court directs that this order be published in the Kansas Reports, that
the costs herein be assessed to Smith, and that Smith comply with Supreme Court Rule
231 (2023 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 292).

         Dated this 25th day of January 2024.

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