Court Opinion

ID: 9685902
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:08:08.212871+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:14.414219
License: Public Domain

TO BE PUBLISHED

                 Supreme Court of Kentucky
                               2023-SC-0179-KB

BRADLEY STUART SOWELL                                                  MOVANT

V.                            IN SUPREME COURT

KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION                                        RESPONDENT

                             OPINION AND ORDER

     Bradley Stuart Sowell was admitted to practice in the state of Kentucky on

October 21, 2011. His Kentucky Bar Association (“KBA”) member number is

94511, and bar roster address is 316 Paulette Street, Bowling Green,

Kentucky, 42104. He was suspended from the practice of law in 2020. Sowell

seeks reinstatement of his license pursuant to SCR1 3.502. The Board of

Governors (“the Board”) recommends that Sowell be readmitted to the bar,

alongside the recommendation of the Character and Fitness Committee (“the

Committee”). Having reviewed the record and considered the findings of the

Board and Committee, we agree and grant Sowell’s application for

reinstatement.

      1 Rules of the Supreme Court.
                            I. Factual Background

          Sowell attended Mississippi School of Law and first entered voluntary

treatment of alcoholism in 2008. Upon graduation and returning to Kentucky,

Sowell contacted the Kentucky Lawyer Assistance Program (“KYLAP”) in an

effort to continue his treatment and procured a mentor. Sowell was admitted

to the bar on a conditional basis in 2011, with the requirements that he would

refrain from alcohol and other substances as well as remain under the

supervision of KYLAP. Sowell returned to Mississippi after a revision of the

agreement allowing him to do so with the permission of the Office of Bar

Admissions (“OBA”) and continued his journey with the Lawyers and Judges

Assistance Program, the Mississippi program equivalent to KYLAP. Sowell was

required to maintain contact with OBA and provide an update every six

months, which he failed to do.

      Sowell moved back to Kentucky in January 2012 and reconnected with

KYLAP. During this time Sowell relapsed. Sowell’s monitor through KYLAP

issued a report that indicated Sowell had been drinking and suffering from

depression whilst going through a divorce. In 2015, Sowell entered into a

Supplemental Consent Agreement with OBA, which he violated. The

Committee hosted a show cause hearing and voted not to revoke Sowell’s

license, but rather allow him to enter into another revised Consent Agreement

with the understanding that there would be a “zero tolerance” policy going

forward for alcohol or any noncompliance. In 2016, Sowell entered a Second

Supplement Consent Agreement providing for a review at the end of the

                                       2
monitoring period of one year. Sowell then failed a drug test and was admitted

to an in-care patient facility, where he subsequently checked himself out.

      In 2016, the OBA Director recommended that Sowell’s license be

revoked. Sowell continued to work as a paralegal, signing an Interim

Resolution Agreement. Eventually, Sowell signed a Third Supplemental

Agreement in 2017 with a length of five years. In 2019, Sowell failed a drug

test. Sowell was subsequently suspended from practice in 2019 with the

condition he not apply for reinstatement for another two years. Character and

Fitness Comm. of Ky. Off. of Bar Admissions v. Sowell, 599 S.W.3d 439 (Ky.

2020). Sowell filed for reinstatement in 2022.

                                  II. Analysis

      Sowell’s reinstatement comes at the recommendation of both the

Committee and the Board. In order to be reinstated, Sowell must show by

“clear and convincing evidence that he/she possesses the requisite character,

fitness and moral qualifications for re-admission to the practice of law.” SCR

3.503(1). In making this assessment, we consider if Sowell has complied with

the terms of his suspension, SCR 3.503(1)(b); whether he can present clear and

convincing evidence that his conduct during his suspension shows that he is

worthy of the trust and confidence of the public, SCR 3.503(1)(c); and whether

he possesses sufficient professional capabilities to serve the public as an

attorney. SCR 3.503(1)(d).

      Sowell has been committed to his journey of recovery concerning both

addiction and mental health challenges. The circumstances in Sowell’s case

                                        3
are similar to those in Njuguna v. Ky. Bar Ass’n, 600 S.W.3d 264 (Ky. 2020).

After battling addiction, Njuguna developed a relationship with KYLAP and

created positive change through community outreach and hard work, fulfilling

his suspension period and adhering to the terms of his KYLAP agreement. Id.

at 264-65. Like Sowell, Njuguna was recommended for reinstatement by both

the Board and the Committee, and that reinstatement was granted

unanimously. Id. at 265.

      Since his failed drug test in 2019, Sowell has been continually compliant

with KYLAP demands regarding sobriety and has been completely cooperative

throughout. Sowell fulfilled the two-year waiting period suspension mandated

before reapplying, using this time to speak at AA meetings and rehabilitation

centers. Sowell has also started Victory Lane, a transitional sober living facility

in Bowling Green. Sowell has complied with every term of his suspension as

well as paving a healthy way forward for both his legal career and personal life.

                                 III. Conclusion

      Therefore, pursuant to SCR 3.503, it is hereby ORDERED that Bradley

Sowell’s application for reinstatement to the practice of law in the

Commonwealth of Kentucky is granted conditioned upon the following:

      1. Payment of all costs associated with these proceedings in accordance

      with SCR 3.503(5), said sum being $210.47;

      2. Sowell enters into a Consent Agreement for Conditional Admission

      pursuant to SCR 2.042;

                                        4
3. Sowell continues to be monitored by KYLAP for a period of four (4)

years; and

4. KYLAP provides quarterly monitoring reports on Sowell’s progress to

the Character and Fitness Committee and the Office of Bar Admissions.

All sitting. All concur.

ENTERED: August 24, 2023.

                              ______________________________________
                              CHIEF JUSTICE

                                 5