Court Opinion

ID: 9855301
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:22:31.598041+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:36.458556
License: Public Domain

SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, J.
(dissenting). I agree that Attorney Jones neglected a client's legal matter and improperly handled client funds and trust accounts. Moreover, even after a public reprimand in 1984 for failing to cooperate in the Board's investigation, Attorney Jones failed to cooperate with the Board in this investigation. The referee, the majority and I agree that despite mitigating circumstances, Attorney Jones must be disciplined for his second violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys.
Referee Honeck crafted a discipline fitting for this case, taking into account the misconduct, the mitigating circumstances, the well-being of Attorney Jones' clients, and the public interest. In my opinion the referee's recommendation is a constructive proposal that both protects the public and helps Attorney Jones improve his lawyering skills. Because I believe suspending Attorney Jones for 60 days would serve only a punitive purpose, I would adopt the referee's recommendation.
I am authorized to state that Justice Donald W. Steinmetz and Justice William A. Bablitch join in this dissent.