Court Opinion

ID: 9522379
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 02:24:12.207804+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:02:41.113636
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE MORAN, dissenting: I find censure an inappropriate sanction in view of the underlying criminal charge. Respondent’s background makes it difficult to comprehend why he would even take possession of the drug from a client. He was certainly cognizant of the fact that drug trafficking is a national problem. He denied requesting the drug. He denied that it was .proffered him in payment for legal services. Beyond these denials, respondent claims no memory of how, from whom, or why he came into possession of the cocaine. In my judgment respondent’s duty to respect and uphold the law, his status as an officer of the court, his lengthy and specialized law-enforcement background, and the circumstances surrounding his possession of the cocaine make censure an inappropriately lenient sanction. Balancing the aforementioned factors against the mitigating factors cited by the majority, I would suspend respondent for the remainder of his term of probation under his Federal conviction, said suspension to be stayed upon condition that he successfully complete the terms of his probation. JUSTICE MILLER joins in this dissent.