Court Opinion

ID: 9880797
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-28 17:07:11.193001+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:57:20.644181
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                        IN THE OFFICE OF THE
                                                                     CLERK OF SUPREME COURT
                                                                         SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
                                                                      STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

                  IN THE SUPREME COURT
                  STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

                                 2023 ND 189

In the Matter of Reciprocal Discipline of Joseph D. Roach, a Member of the
Bar of the State of North Dakota

                                 No. 20230233

Recommendation for Reciprocal Discipline.
SUSPENSION ORDERED.

Per Curiam.

[¶1] On June 20, 2023, the North Dakota Disciplinary Board notified the
Supreme Court under N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 4.4(D) it was recommending the
reciprocal discipline of Joseph D. Roach. The record reflects that effective
December 7, 2022, the Minnesota Supreme Court reprimanded and placed him
on probation with conditions for two years based on misconduct representing
a client in a divorce.

[¶2] Roach was admitted to practice law in North Dakota on November 18,
2003, and has been licensed since. On December 27, 2022, the North Dakota
Disciplinary Board served notice under N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 4.4(B) that a
certified copy of an order of suspension was entered by the Minnesota Supreme
Court was received. The notice informed Roach he had 30 days to file any claim
that imposition of the identical discipline in North Dakota would be
unwarranted and the reasons for the claim. On January 17, 2023, Roach,
consented to reciprocal discipline, but asked that the monitoring of his practice
be satisfied in Minnesota, where he resides and his office is located.

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[¶3] On June 20, 2023, the Disciplinary Board filed its recommendation that
Roach be reprimanded by this court. It requested that Roach be put on
probation with the conditions set out in the Minnesota order for two years. The
Board recommended that, rather than a Minnesota attorney, an attorney
licensed in North Dakota supervise Roach’s North Dakota practice.

[¶4] The Court considered the matter, and

[¶5] ORDERED that Joseph D. Roach is REPRIMANDED.

[¶6] IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Roach is placed on probation effective
upon the entry of judgment in this matter with the following conditions:

      1. Roach comply with the Minnesota Supreme Court order filed
         December 7, 2022. Roach will provide to North Dakota Disciplinary
         Counsel copies of all reports filed in connection with that supervision.

      2. Roach abide by the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct.

      3. Roach be supervised by an attorney licensed in North Dakota for
         compliance with the terms of this probation and with respect to any
         practice in North Dakota for two years effective upon entry of the
         judgment in this matter.

      4. Roach will cooperate fully with his supervisor's efforts to monitor
         compliance. Roach will contact the supervisor and schedule a
         minimum of one in-person meeting per calendar quarter. Roach will
         submit to the supervisor an inventory of all active files related to
         North Dakota practice by the first day of each month during
         probation. With respect to each active North Dakota file, the
         inventory will disclose the client name, type of representation, date
         opened, most recent activity, next anticipated action, and anticipated
         closing date. Roach’s supervisor will file written reports with
         Disciplinary Counsel at least quarterly, or at such more frequent
         intervals as may reasonably be requested by Disciplinary Counsel.

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     5. Within two weeks of entry of judgment in this matter, Roach will
        provide Disciplinary Counsel with the name of the attorney licensed
        in North Dakota who agrees to supervise. If, after diligent effort,
        respondent is unable to locate a supervisor, Disciplinary Counsel will
        seek to appoint a supervisor. Until a supervisor has signed a consent
        to supervise, Roach will on the first day of each month provide
        Disciplinary Counsel with an inventory of active files related to North
        Dakota practice. Roach will make active files related to North Dakota
        practice available to Disciplinary Counsel upon its request.

     6. Roach’s North Dakota supervising attorney shall file quarterly
        written reports with Disciplinary Counsel which will be due starting
        November 1, 2023.

[¶1] Jon J. Jensen, C.J.
     Daniel J. Crothers
     Lisa Fair McEvers
     Jerod E. Tufte
     Douglas A. Bahr

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