Court Opinion

ID: 4398758
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-21 12:06:02.169293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:19:47.405010
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

                                        No. COA18-1137

                                      Filed: 21 May 2019

Wake County, No. 18 R 439

IN THE MATTER OF: TONY SAMI BOTROS, ATTORNEY.

       Appeal by Respondent from Order entered 8 June 2018 by Judge Paul C.

Ridgeway in Wake County Superior Court.                  Heard in the Court of Appeals 28

February 2019.

       North Carolina State Bar, by A. Root Edmonson, Deputy Counsel, for plaintiff-
       appellee.

       Tony S. Botros, respondent-appellant, pro se.

       HAMPSON, Judge.

                         Factual and Procedural Background

       Tony Sami Botros (Respondent) appeals from an Order (Disability Order)

transferring him to “disability inactive status.”1                The evidence presented at

Respondent’s hearing tends to show the following:

       1   The North Carolina State Bar Rules define “disability inactive status” as a class of
membership in the North Carolina State Bar that “includes members who suffer from a mental or
physical condition which significantly impairs the professional judgment, performance, or competence
of an attorney, as determined by the courts, the council, or the Disciplinary Hearing Commission.” 27
N.C. Admin. Code 1A.0201(c)(2)(C) (2018).
                                   IN RE BOTROS

                                 Opinion of the Court

      At all relevant times, Respondent, who was admitted to the North Carolina

Bar in 2013, was engaged in the practice of law and maintained an office in Wake

County. In March of 2018, Respondent was representing the plaintiff in a tort case

before Wake County Superior Court, and the defendant had filed a motion for

summary judgment with the court, which was scheduled to be heard the week of 26

March 2018. On 26 March 2018, Superior Court Coordinator, Lisa Tucker, notified

Respondent that the summary judgment motion would be heard at 12:00 p.m. on 29

March 2018 in courtroom 10-B of the Wake County Courthouse, with Superior Court

Judge A. Graham Shirley (Judge Shirley) presiding.

      On the morning of 29 March 2018, Respondent also had an unrelated custody

hearing before Wake County District Court Judge Ashleigh P. Dunston (Judge

Dunston) in courtroom 2-A of the Wake County Courthouse. Respondent appeared

in Judge Dunston’s courtroom at approximately 9:40 a.m.         When Respondent’s

opposing counsel sought to call a six-year-old girl to testify, Judge Dunston called

both Respondent and opposing counsel into chambers and suggested the parties

attempt to mediate a resolution. While in chambers, Judge Dunston began to suspect

Respondent might be impaired based on his slurred speech, dilated eyes, and

incoherent arguments.

      As noon approached, Respondent and opposing counsel had not reached an

agreement regarding their clients’ custody dispute. As a result, Respondent failed to

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                                   Opinion of the Court

appear in Judge Shirley’s courtroom for the hearing on the summary judgment

motion. Around this time, the clerk from Judge Dunston’s courtroom called the clerk

in Judge Shirley’s courtroom to notify Judge Shirley of Respondent’s whereabouts

and that Respondent was unsure which court, superior or district court, had priority.

Upon being notified of Respondent’s dilemma, Judge Shirley went to Judge Dunston’s

courtroom to discuss the matter.

      When Judge Shirley arrived in Judge Dunston’s courtroom, Judge Dunston

informed Judge Shirley of her suspicions regarding Respondent’s potential

impairment. During their discussions, the two judges decided Judge Shirley had

priority and ordered Respondent to report to Judge Shirley’s courtroom to address

the summary judgment motion. Thereafter, Judge Shirley left Judge Dunston’s

chambers and rode the elevator back to his courtroom with Respondent.

      Upon arriving in Judge Shirley’s courtroom, Respondent appeared distressed

and requested five minutes to “collect himself,” which Judge Shirley allowed. While

Respondent was away, Judge Shirley requested Lisa Tucker and Kellie Myers, who

was the Trial Court Administrator in Wake County, accompany him in chambers, as

Lisa Tucker had encountered Respondent on a previous occasion and could gauge

whether Respondent’s behavior was consistent with her previous interaction with

him. When Respondent returned to the courtroom, Judge Shirley requested both

Respondent and opposing counsel join him in chambers.

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                                 Opinion of the Court

      Once in chambers, “[i]t became readily apparent to [Judge Shirley] that

[Respondent] was impaired” because his pupils were dilated, his speech was slurred,

and he did not have “a rational thought process.” When asked by Judge Shirley if he

was on any medication or other mind-altering substances, Respondent admitted he

took antidepressants, as he suffered from an anxiety disorder and depression, but

adamantly denied he was impaired. Based on Respondent’s condition, Judge Shirley

informed Respondent that he believed Respondent was impaired and unable to

represent his client, and that he intended to continue the hearing to the following

week. Respondent insisted Judge Shirley allow him to state on the record he was not

impaired and was ready to proceed with the hearing. However, Judge Shirley refused

Respondent’s calls to go on the record in order to save Respondent from publicly

damaging his reputation with his client. Thereafter, Respondent was allowed to

leave, and the summary judgment hearing was continued until 6 April 2018.

      Upon leaving Judge Shirley’s chambers, Respondent returned to Judge

Dunston’s courtroom. Judge Dunston informed Respondent that she would not allow

him to proceed with the custody hearing and asked Respondent if he would submit to

an examination by a drug recognition expert (DRE). Respondent initially agreed to

the DRE examination. However, when the DRE arrived, Respondent stated he was

embarrassed and wanted to leave, and refused to submit to the DRE examination.

Thereafter, Respondent left.

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                                    IN RE BOTROS

                                  Opinion of the Court

      On 6 April 2018, Respondent returned to Judge Shirley’s courtroom for the

hearing on the summary judgment motion. Respondent arrived at the hearing late,

and after approximately two-thirds of his argument, Respondent stopped and asked

Judge Shirley if he could pause to have a drink of water, which Judge Shirley allowed.

Thereafter, Respondent informed Judge Shirley that he was not on his “A-game” and

requested the court continue the matter, which Judge Shirley denied.          At the

conclusion of the hearing, Judge Shirley took the matter under advisement and

requested Respondent accompany him back to chambers.

      Once in chambers, Judge Shirley expressed his concerns regarding

Respondent’s behavior on 29 March 2018, which he believed amounted to contempt

of court. Judge Shirley also informed Respondent that he believed Respondent was

impaired on 6 April 2018 as well. Based on these concerns, Judge Shirley presented

Respondent with a draft Motion to Show Cause for Contempt and told Respondent he

would not file this Motion if Respondent would voluntarily seek evaluation and

treatment through the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP). As a further condition,

Judge Shirley required Respondent sign a release allowing the LAP to report

Respondent’s compliance status to Judge Shirley. Thereafter, Respondent agreed to

Judge Shirley’s request and signed the release (LAP Agreement).

      At 4:37 a.m. on 2 May 2018, Respondent sent an email to Kellie Myers revoking

the LAP Agreement and declaring it “null and void,” contending he was initially

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                                 Opinion of the Court

coerced into signing the LAP Agreement. Respondent also sent an email to the

Eastern Clinical Coordinator of the LAP revoking the LAP Agreement.

      After learning of Respondent’s revocation of the LAP Agreement, Judge Shirley

filed an Order to Show Cause (Show Cause Order), which was served on Respondent

on 15 May 2018. The Show Cause Order stated, in pertinent part:

            YOU ARE HEREBY GIVEN NOTICE THAT . . . a hearing will
         be held . . . to determine whether this Court shall impose
         professional discipline or transfer your law license to disability
         inactive status as a result of your recent conduct within the Tenth
         Judicial District.

             The Court initiates this action on its own motion, pursuant to
         its inherent authority to regulate the conduct of officers of the
         court. The information before the Court (as more specifically set
         forth herein) raises the question of whether you have violated the
         North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, or in the
         alternative, whether you are presently suffering from a mental or
         physical condition (which may include but is not limited to mental
         illness and/or substance abuse) which significantly impairs your
         professional judgment, performance, or competency as an
         attorney.

      On 1 June 2018, a hearing on the Show Cause Order came on before Wake

County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Paul C. Ridgeway (Judge Ridgeway).

Respondent attended this hearing and represented himself pro se. At the end of the

day, Judge Ridgeway adjourned the hearing and notified Respondent that the

hearing would resume on 6 June 2018. However, Respondent failed to appear on 6

June 2018 when the hearing resumed. At the conclusion of the 6 June 2018 hearing,

Judge Ridgeway took the matter under advisement, and on 8 June 2018, Judge

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                                   Opinion of the Court

Ridgeway entered the Disability Order transferring Respondent to disability inactive

status. On 9 July 2018, Respondent timely filed Notice of Appeal from the Disability

Order.

                                        Issues

      Respondent raises several arguments on appeal, and these arguments distill

into the following issues: (I) whether the trial court’s Findings of Fact are supported

by competent evidence; (II) whether the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction to

place Respondent on disability inactive status; (III) whether Respondent was afforded

the requisite due process, including proper notice of the proceedings; and (IV)

whether the trial court’s Findings and Conclusions supported placing Respondent on

disability inactive status.

                                Standard of Review

      Respondent challenges numerous Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in

the trial court’s Disability Order. When reviewing an order of a trial court entered

pursuant to its inherent authority to regulate officers of the court, “[f]indings of fact

made by the trial judge are conclusive on appeal if supported by competent evidence,

even if . . . there is evidence to the contrary.” Sisk v. Transylvania Cmty. Hosp., Inc.,

364 N.C. 172, 179, 695 S.E.2d 429, 434 (2010) (alteration in original) (citations and

quotation marks omitted). Because acts of the trial court under its inherent authority

are discretionary in nature, when reviewing the trial court’s conclusions of law, “we

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                                   Opinion of the Court

need determine only whether they are the result of a reasoned decision[.]” Id. at 180,

695 S.E.2d at 435 (citation omitted); see also In re Cranor, 247 N.C. App. 565, 573,

786 S.E.2d 379, 385 (2016) (“The proper standard of review for acts by the trial court

in the exercise of its inherent authority is abuse of discretion.” (citation omitted)). By

way of example, “[w]hen discretionary rulings are made under a misapprehension of

the law, this may constitute an abuse of discretion.” Gailey v. Triangle Billiards &

Blues Club, Inc., 179 N.C. App. 848, 851, 635 S.E.2d 482, 484 (2006) (citations

omitted).

                                       Analysis

                                   I. Findings of Fact

      Respondent argues there is insufficient evidence to support 12 of the trial

court’s Findings. We disagree.

      Respondent first challenges Finding 4, which states:

            [Respondent] failed to appear at the appointed time on March 29,
            2018 in Courtroom 10-B presided over by Judge A. Graham
            Shirley (“Judge Shirley”). The Courtroom Clerk in Courtroom 10-
            B received a call from the Courtroom Clerk in Courtroom 2-A and
            indicated that [Respondent] was in that Courtroom and was
            attempting to determine which court had priority despite
            previously being told that he was expected in Courtroom 10-B at
            12:00 p.m. Judge Shirley went to Courtroom 2-A to discuss this
            matter with the presiding District Court Judge Ashleigh P.
            Dunston (“Judge Dunston”).

In his brief, Respondent contends this Finding is unsupported because Judge Shirley

testified he came down to Judge Dunston’s courtroom before 12:00 p.m. However,

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                                 Opinion of the Court

competent evidence was presented at the hearing showing Respondent did not appear

in Judge Shirley’s courtroom at the appointed time, 12:00 p.m. At the 1 June 2018

hearing, Judge Shirley testified “[a]t 12 o’clock, [Respondent] had not shown up.”

Further, Judge Shirley’s courtroom clerk testified Respondent was not in Judge

Shirley’s courtroom by 12:00 p.m. on 29 March 2018. Therefore, this Finding is

supported by competent evidence.

      Respondent next challenges Findings 5 and 6, which state:

         5. In the course of their conversation in Courtroom 2-A, Judge
         Dunston informed Judge Shirley that she was of the opinion that
         [Respondent] was impaired.         She recounted that while
         [Respondent] was in or around Courtroom 2-A, Judge Dunston
         observed that [Respondent] spoke in a rambling and sometimes
         ranting fashion, had slurred speech and dilated eyes, and that she
         believed him to be under the influence of an impairing substance.

         6. The Courtroom Clerk in Courtroom 2-A also formed the opinion
         that [Respondent] was impaired. She observed that [Respondent]
         initially appeared lethargic, and that he spoke with slurred
         speech, was sweaty, and that he frequently wiped his face and
         tugged at his collar.     This same Clerk also encountered
         [Respondent] outside of the courthouse during the lunch hour,
         and [Respondent] was walking down stairs in a very unsteady
         manner and needed to steady himself on the hand rails.

Respondent contends these Findings are not supported by competent evidence

because (1) Judge Dunston testified several times that she was unsure if Respondent

was impaired and (2) the Courtroom Clerk in 2-A, Christina Sollers, testified she

could not tell whether Respondent’s eyes were dilated.

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                                   IN RE BOTROS

                                 Opinion of the Court

      First, Respondent mischaracterizes Judge Dunston’s testimony.        Although

Judge Dunston did testify that on 29 March 2018 she initially “did not know for sure”

whether Respondent was impaired, her testimony throughout the 1 June 2018

hearing consistently shows she believed Respondent was impaired that day. Judge

Dunston testified, “I definitely thought something was wrong [with Respondent]. His

eyes did appear dilated; they -- you know, his words were slurred; he was rambling

about things that had nothing to do with what we were talking about[.]” Judge

Dunston also notified Judge Shirley of her suspicions regarding Respondent’s

impairment, and Judge Dunston also testified she thought “[Respondent] was

impaired on some type of pill or something.”

      As for Finding 6, although Christina Sollers stated she could not tell whether

Respondent’s eyes were dilated, she consistently testified Respondent seemed

impaired on 29 March 2018. Sollers averred Respondent seemed impaired because

“he seemed a little lethargic . . . . He was very sporadic. He came to court late. He

slurred his words. He tugged on his collar a lot; wiped his face a lot.” In addition,

Sollers testified Respondent seemed sweaty and she observed Respondent needing to

steady himself as he walked down a flight of stairs at the courthouse. Therefore,

competent evidence supports the trial court’s Findings 5 and 6.

      In addition, Respondent asserts Finding 7 is not supported by competent

evidence, which Finding states: “After speaking with Judge Dunston and upon

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                                   Opinion of the Court

leaving Chambers for Courtroom 2-A, Judge Shirley witnessed [Respondent]

speaking with a Deputy of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.              Based upon

[Respondent’s] speech he continued to appear impaired and disoriented.” Respondent

contends because the Deputy did not testify, this Finding is unsupported. However,

Finding 7 relates to Judge Shirley’s impressions of Respondent during his

conversation with the Deputy, which Judge Shirley was competent to testify about

because he personally witnessed the conversation. Cf. Robbins v. Trading Post, Inc.,

251 N.C. 663, 666, 111 S.E.2d 884, 886 (1960) (“A witness is not competent to testify

to a fact beyond his personal knowledge or to base an opinion upon facts of which he

has no knowledge.” (citations omitted)). Therefore, the fact that the Deputy did not

testify is inconsequential to Finding 7.

      Respondent next challenges Finding of Fact 9, which provides: “Immediately

upon appearing before Judge Shirley, [Respondent] requested five minutes to ‘collect’

himself. [Respondent] appeared somewhat distressed and disoriented.” Respondent

argues this Finding is unsupported by competent evidence because on cross-

examination Respondent played a recording of the 29 March 2018 hearing showing

Respondent requested to “have one -- one moment[,]” without saying it was to “collect”

himself. However, the trial court’s Finding that Respondent’s request for a moment

was to “collect” himself is a reasonable inference from Judge Shirley’s testimony. See

Thompson v. Carolina Cabinet Co., 223 N.C. App. 352, 358, 734 S.E.2d 125, 128

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                                   Opinion of the Court

(2012) (“While plaintiff may not have used the precise words of the findings in his

testimony, the findings reasonably paraphrase plaintiff’s testimony or are inferences

reasonably drawn from that testimony.” (emphasis added)).          In any event, this

Finding is not necessary to the trial court’s Conclusions of Law; therefore,

Respondent’s argument on this Finding is without merit. See In re Custody of Stancil,

10 N.C. App. 545, 549, 179 S.E.2d 844, 847 (1971) (“Immaterial findings of fact are to

be disregarded. . . . It is sufficient if enough material facts are found to support the

judgment.” (citations omitted)).

      Respondent also contends Finding of Fact 10 is not supported by the evidence,

which Finding states:

          When [Respondent] returned, Judge Shirley met with counsel in
          Chambers. [Respondent’s] pupils were dilated, his speech was
          slurred, and he did not appear to be able to speak in a coherent
          manner. [Respondent] stated that he was taking antidepressant
          medication and had been diagnosed with depression and social
          anxiety disorder.

Respondent asserts this Finding is unsupported because three of the State’s

witnesses testified they could not tell whether Respondent’s pupils were dilated.

However, Judge Shirley testified “[Respondent’s] pupils were dilated.”         Further,

Judge Dunston also testified Respondent’s “eyes did appear dilated[.]”             This

constitutes competent evidence supporting Finding 10.

      Respondent next challenges Finding of Fact 12, which reads:

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                                  Opinion of the Court

         The Courtroom Clerk in Judge Shirley’s courtroom[, Caitlyn
         Beale,] also formed the opinion that [Respondent] was impaired
         on March 29, 2018. She noted that he was jumpy, erratic,
         sweating, not able to express coherent thoughts and that his eyes
         were dilated. This same clerk had seen [Respondent] on March
         26, 2018 at calendar call, and his appearance and actions on
         March 29, 2018 were markedly different from his more normal
         demeanor on March 26, 2018.

Respondent argues this Finding is unsupported because Caitlyn Beale “testified she

was unsure of whether Respondent was impaired, stated she could not tell if

Respondent’s eyes were dilated when he first presented, and stated that Respondent’s

matter was never argued and thus could make no judgment of whether Respondent

was able to express coherent thoughts.” However, the following testimony by Caitlyn

Beale supports Finding 12:

         Q. And did you observe [Respondent] while he was in the
         courtroom [on 29 March 2018]?

         A. I did.

         Q. Did he appear to you to be effective for his client?

         A. No.

         Q. What -- what did you witness that made you think he was
         ineffective?

         A. His behavior was very erratic. He seemed a little jumpy and
         he was kind of sweaty or clammy and just not able to put a
         coherent thought together.

         Q. Did -- did he -- did his eyes appear to be dilated?

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                               IN RE BOTROS

                             Opinion of the Court

   A. When he first came out, he was not close enough to see him
   [sic], so I can’t really say for sure. But later, after we took a brief
   recess, he did come up to my desk and they did appear to be
   dilated.

   Q. Did -- did he -- and did he appear to you to be impaired by
   maybe a substance he was taking?

   A. I mean I can’t say for sure, but he was not his normal self. I
   had seen him at calendar call that Monday and that was not his
   behavior on Monday.

   Q. And was he able to articulate an argument on behalf of his
   client?

   A. We never even heard his matter, so no.

   Q. So he -- why did you not hear his matter?

   A. Judge Shirley pulled him in chambers and asked if he was okay
   to proceed hearing the matter and I believe Judge Shirley didn’t
   feel comfortable proceeding to hear it anyway, and so we decided
   to continue it to the following week.

Respondent next challenges Finding 13, which provides:

   After leaving Courtroom 10-[B] on March 29, 2018 [Respondent]
   returned to Courtroom 2-A. There, Judge Dunston informed him
   that based upon her observations and Judge Shirley’s
   observations, she was not going to allow [Respondent] to proceed.
   [Respondent] told Judge Dunston that he was not taking
   anything other than prescribed medications and that he was not
   “high.” Judge Dunston asked whether he would submit to an
   examination by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and
   [Respondent] answered he would. However, when the DRE
   arrived, [Respondent] stated that he did not want to submit to an
   examination and just wanted to leave.

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                                   Opinion of the Court

      Respondent contends this Finding is not supported by the evidence because

Judge Dunston testified she was unsure if Respondent was impaired and admitted

she released Respondent prior to a DRE arriving. However, the following testimony

regarding what Judge Dunston told Respondent upon returning to her courtroom

supports this Finding:

              So [Respondent and opposing counsel] came up and
         approached the bench. And I basically told [Respondent] as nicely
         as I could that based upon what I believed as far as him being
         impaired, also the fact of what I had learned from Judge Shirley
         and also that [Judge] Shirley had already determined that he was
         not what I believed competent to proceed that day, which is why
         he continued the case, that at that point I said, okay, well, I don’t
         -- I also don’t believe -- if a superior court judge has done this, I -
         - I definitely can’t have you practice in my court immediately after
         that. And I don’t think that you should. And I had some
         questions this morning, but now I’m confirmed in that.

             And he basically told me that he had a social disorder, social -
         - some -- some type of disorder, that he was taking medication for
         that, that he’s not on anything other than his prescribed
         medication. He -- he said that he was not -- that he was not high.

            ....

             And I asked him at the bench, I said, will you submit to a drug
         recognition expert? I have one coming and if, you know, they
         determine that there’s nothing wrong, I mean then that’s -- then
         it is what it is.

             And he told me he would. He said, yes, I will because I’m not
         -- there’s nothing wrong with me, blah, blah, blah. And I said,
         Okay.

            ....

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                                 Opinion of the Court

            [After approximately 20 minutes,] DRE had arrived. And so
         when the DRE got there, [Respondent] did not submit to his
         testing and said that he just wanted to leave and that he was
         embarrassed and that he was not going to submit to the DRE.
         And then that was the last time I saw him when he walked out of
         the courtroom.

      Although Respondent contends Judge Dunston’s testimony contradicted the

above exchange (without citing where in the transcript this occurred), we hold the

above exchange supports Finding 13. See Sisk, 364 N.C. at 179, 695 S.E.2d at 434

(“[F]indings of fact made by the trial judge are conclusive on appeal if supported by

competent evidence, even if . . . there is evidence to the contrary.” (alterations in

original) (emphasis added) (citation and quotation marks omitted)).

      Respondent next challenges Finding of Fact 17, which states:

         In Chambers, Judge Shirley advised [Respondent] that Judge
         Shirley was concerned with his conduct on March 29, 2018 and
         that his conduct on April 6, 2018 did nothing to alleviate those
         concerns. Judge Shirley informed [Respondent] that the Court
         believed that his conduct on March 29, 2018 amounted to
         Contempt of Court and a violation of the Rules of Professional
         Conduct and that the Court had prepared a Motion to Show
         Cause, which he showed to [Respondent]. Judge Shirley further
         informed [Respondent] that first and foremost he was concerned
         for [Respondent’s] well-being. Judge Shirley explained that he
         was prepared to issue and file the Motion to Show Cause but
         would hold off on signing any order if [Respondent] would
         voluntarily present himself to the Lawyer’s Assistance Program
         (LAP) for an evaluation and follow any recommended treatment.
         As a further condition of not proceeding with the Motion to Show
         Cause, Judge Shirley indicated that he would only defer entering
         the Motion to Show Cause if [Respondent] executed a release that
         would allow LAP to provide the following information to the
         Court: (a) whether [Respondent] made contact with LAP; (b) the

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                                  Opinion of the Court

          status of [Respondent’s] participation with LAP, including
          whether or not he was compliant with the clinical
          recommendations of the LAP; (c) a copy of any LAP Recovery
          Contract entered into by [Respondent]; and (d) the status of
          [Respondent’s] LAP Recovery Contract.

Respondent asserts this Finding is not supported because the “release” was never

introduced or admitted into evidence.        However, Judge Shirley had personal

knowledge of the release and was competent to testify to its contents. Cf. Robbins,
251 N.C. at 666, 111 S.E.2d at 886 (citations omitted). Regarding the release, Judge

Shirley testified as follows:

              So [Respondent] came back into chambers. I had him take a
          seat. And I told [Respondent], I said, [Respondent], I said, I am
          very concerned about what happened in my court in 10B last
          week. And to be honest, your conduct -- and again, I reiterated, I
          told him I believed he was impaired -- your conduct to me amount
          to contempt of court. And as a judge, that is something that I
          could not let pass and I was going to have to do something about
          it.

              I told him that my primary concern was his well-being and the
          well-being of his clients. And I showed him an order I had
          prepared on a Motion to Show Cause. At that point in time it’s a
          Motion to Show Cause why he shouldn’t be held in contempt of
          court and/or why he shouldn’t be disciplined or have his -- be
          placed on an inactive status because of either a substance abuse
          problem or mental health problem. And I told him I was prepared
          to enter that order that day, but what I would do is I would defer
          entering that order on the -- on the following conditions: That he
          voluntarily present himself to LAP. And I disclosed what that
          was; that he get an evaluation. That if after the evaluation they
          recommended any treatment, that he’d follow that treatment
          protocol and whatever contract he had with LAP; and finally that
          -- so I could ensure that he was in compliance with whatever LAP
          was asking him to do, I asked him -- I told him he’d be -- have to

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                                  Opinion of the Court

         sign a consent form. And that if he did those things, I would --
         and told him what the consent form was for. And -- and told him
         that if he did those things, I would not file and make a public
         record.

             ....

            I -- I would not make a public. That, you know, you wouldn’t
         have a public record with the -- the Motion to -- to Show Cause.

             He readily agreed. In fact, his reaction was almost one of
         relief. He signed the consent order -- or he signed the consent
         allowing me to monitor him. I told -- I gave him, I believe, until
         5 o’clock on Monday to -- to make telephonic communication with
         LAP. I then informed the folks from LAP they should be
         expecting a call.

This testimony constitutes competent evidence to support Finding 17.

      Respondent next challenges Findings 19 and 20, which state as follows:

         19. [Respondent] indicated that he wanted to voluntarily present
         himself to LAP and he thereafter executed the release.

         20. As a result of the April 6, 2018 hearing, the Court ultimately
         granted the Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment. In
         addition to the Court concluding that the evidence did not show
         intentional or reckless conduct, [Respondent] failed to present
         any evidence in the form required by Rule 56(e) of the North
         Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure concerning any severe
         emotional distress suffered by Plaintiff. In defense of this lack of
         evidence [Respondent] complained to the Court that his client’s
         deposition had not even been taken.

Respondent asserts these two Findings are not supported by competent evidence

because the execution of the release was not voluntary. We first note Finding 20 is

immaterial to the trial court’s Conclusions of Law; therefore, we do not address this

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                                   Opinion of the Court

Finding. See In re Custody of Stancil, 10 N.C. App. at 549, 179 S.E.2d at 847

(“Immaterial findings of fact are to be disregarded.” (citation omitted)).

      As for Respondent’s contention that the execution of the release was not

voluntary, Respondent did not present any evidence at the 6 June 2018 hearing, as

Respondent did not attend the hearing on this date. As the above testimony in

support of Finding 17 shows, Judge Shirley testified Respondent “readily agreed” to

sign the release. Further, Kellie Myers, who witnessed Respondent sign the release,

testified Respondent did not object or complain about signing the release. Therefore,

Finding 19 is supported by competent evidence.

      Lastly, Respondent challenges Finding 23, which states: “After the hearing in

this matter was concluded on June 6, 2018, [Respondent] sent communications to the

Court regarding this matter. Because these communications were not offered as

evidence or argument during the hearing in this matter, the communications have

not been reviewed or considered by the Court.”

      Respondent contends this Finding is “not supported by the evidence as the

Prosecutor represented to the trial court that Respondent had emailed him a medical

opinion on 5 June 2018.” However, we fail to see how this assertion renders the

Finding erroneous. Finding 23 simply indicates the trial court did not consider any

post-hearing submissions by Respondent in reaching its decision. Given Respondent

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                                  Opinion of the Court

did not testify and Respondent’s 5 June 2018 email was not received into evidence,

this Finding is not erroneous.

                           II. Subject Matter Jurisdiction

      Respondent challenges the trial court’s Conclusion 1, which states: “This Court

has personal and subject matter jurisdiction.” Respondent contends this Conclusion

is erroneous because the Show Cause Order was in violation of several subsections of

Chapter 5A of our General Statutes, which relate to criminal contempt, thereby

depriving the trial court of subject matter jurisdiction and rendering the Disability

Order null and void. However, this action was not a criminal contempt proceeding;

rather, the Show Cause Order and Disability Order stem from the trial court’s

inherent authority to regulate the conduct of attorneys appearing before it. Thus,

Chapter 5A is inapplicable to this case.

      The courts of this State have inherent authority to regulate the conduct of

attorneys practicing in this State:

              Attorneys are answerable to the summary jurisdiction of the
          court for any dereliction of duty except mere negligence or
          mismanagement. A court may enforce honorable conduct on the
          part of its attorneys and compel them to act honestly toward their
          clients by means of fine, imprisonment or disbarment. The power
          is based upon the relationship of the attorney to the court and the
          authority which the court has over its own officers to prevent
          them from, or punish them for, committing acts of dishonesty or
          impropriety calculated to bring contempt upon the
          administration of justice.

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                                        IN RE BOTROS

                                      Opinion of the Court

In re Burton, 257 N.C. 534, 542-43, 126 S.E.2d 581, 587-88 (1962) (citation and

quotation marks omitted).

       The inherent powers of the judicial branch are those powers that are “essential

to the existence of the court and the orderly and efficient exercise of the

administration of justice.” Beard v. N.C. State Bar, 320 N.C. 126, 129, 357 S.E.2d
694, 696 (1987); see also Couch v. Private Diagnostic Clinic, 146 N.C. App. 658, 665,

554 S.E.2d 356, 362 (2001) (“All courts are vested with inherent authority to do all

things that are reasonably necessary for the proper administration of justice.”

(citations and quotation marks omitted)). Our Supreme Court has noted that this

inherent authority encompasses not only the “power but also the duty to discipline

attorneys, who are officers of the court, for unprofessional conduct.” In re Hunoval,

294 N.C. 740, 744, 247 S.E.2d 230, 233 (1977) (citation omitted).2 Further, this Court

has stated, “[t]here is no question that a Superior Court, as part of its inherent power

to manage its affairs, to see that justice is done, and to see that the administration of

justice is accomplished as expeditiously as possible, has the authority to impose

reasonable and appropriate sanctions upon errant lawyers practicing before it.” In

re Robinson, 37 N.C. App. 671, 676, 247 S.E.2d 241, 244 (1978).

       Although we have found no case addressing the trial court’s authority with

regard to placing attorneys on disability inactive status, a trial court’s inherent

       2 Indeed, in In re Hunoval, the Supreme Court was exercising its own inherent authority by
entering an order of discipline against an attorney practicing before it. See id.

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                                            IN RE BOTROS

                                          Opinion of the Court

authority to regulate attorneys before it must also include the authority to place an

attorney on disability inactive status under appropriate circumstances.3 Just as our

trial courts have the inherent authority to impose sanctions upon attorneys

appearing before them, there is no question that a superior court, as part of its

inherent power to manage its affairs, to see that justice is done, and to see that the

administration of justice is accomplished as expeditiously as possible, has the

authority to transfer an attorney to disability inactive status. See id. at 676-77, 247

S.E.2d at 244-45 (recognizing a court’s inherent authority to impose reasonable and

appropriate sanctions upon lawyers practicing before it); see also In re Beasley, 151
N.C. App. 569, 571-73, 566 S.E.2d 125, 127-28 (2002) (upholding a trial court’s order,

entered pursuant to its inherent authority, suspending an attorney’s license for

substance abuse issues).4

        Here, the Show Cause Order states Respondent was to show cause why, inter

alia, he should not be placed on disability inactive status. The Show Cause Order

further provides the trial court “initiat[ed] this action on its own motion, pursuant to

its inherent authority to regulate the conduct of officers of the court.”                        In the

        3 We also find support for this conclusion in the definition of “disability inactive status” found
in the North Carolina State Bar Rules, which defines this class as “members who suffer from a mental
or physical condition which significantly impairs the professional judgment, performance, or
competence of an attorney, as determined by the courts . . . .” See 27 N.C. Admin. Code 1A.0201(c)(2)(C)
(emphasis added). This definition assumes a trial court has the necessary authority to transfer an
attorney practicing before it to disability inactive status.
        4 Indeed, all of the judges’ efforts below were clear attempts to take proactive remedial steps

in order to avoid formal discipline and provide assistance to Respondent.

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                                     IN RE BOTROS

                                   Opinion of the Court

Disability Order, the trial court explicitly found that Respondent was impaired and

pursuant to its inherent authority, ordered Respondent be placed on disability

inactive status. Because the trial court at all times was acting pursuant to its

inherent authority to regulate officers of the court, the trial court had subject matter

jurisdiction to enter its Disability Order.

                                    III. Due Process

      Respondent next challenges Conclusion 3, which reads: “[Respondent] received

appropriate notice of these proceedings.”          Respondent alleges this Conclusion is

erroneous because it “is not supported by evidence nor does it follow from the Findings

of Fact[,]” and because Judge Shirley violated N.C. Gen. Stat. § 5A-13(a), which deals

with notice procedures when deferring proceedings for direct criminal contempt.

      As already discussed, Judge Shirley’s Show Cause Order was issued pursuant

to the trial court’s inherent authority and was not a criminal contempt proceeding.

Therefore, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 5A-13(a) is inapplicable. Further, the Record shows

Respondent was served with the Show Cause Order at least 17 days prior to the 1

June 2018 hearing, and at this hearing, Respondent appeared and did not object to

service of the Show Cause Order. See, e.g., In re Howell, 161 N.C. App. 650, 655-56,

589 S.E.2d 157, 160 (2003) (explaining a general appearance and failure to object by

a party in an action can waive defense of insufficiency of service of process).

Therefore, Conclusion 3 is supported by the Findings.

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                                      IN RE BOTROS

                                    Opinion of the Court

      In a similar vein, Respondent also alleges the trial court violated his due

process rights by failing to give him notice. See In re Burton, 257 N.C. at 543, 126

S.E.2d at 588 (“A license to engage in business or practice a profession is a property

right which cannot be taken away without due process of law.” (citation and quotation

marks omitted)).

      We conclude Respondent was given due notice of the proceedings. See, e.g., id.

Here, Respondent first learned Judge Shirley intended to file the Show Cause Order

on 6 April 2018. Pursuant to the LAP Agreement, Judge Shirley waited to file the

Show Cause Order as long as Respondent participated in the LAP. However, when

Respondent revoked the LAP Agreement on 2 May 2018, Judge Shirley resorted to

filing the Show Cause Order, as he had explicitly informed Respondent he would do

if Respondent failed to comply with the LAP Agreement. Respondent was personally

served with the Show Cause Order on 15 May 2018. The Show Cause Order detailed

the allegations against Respondent and ordered Respondent to attend a hearing to

determine “whether [Respondent is] presently suffering from a mental or physical

condition (which may include but is not limited to mental illness and/or substance

abuse)   which     significantly   impairs    [Respondent’s]   professional   judgment,

performance, or competency as an attorney.” Prior to the hearing on 1 June 2018,

Respondent hired counsel to represent him at this hearing; however, Respondent

allowed counsel to withdraw on the day of the hearing. In addition, the hearing on

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                                     IN RE BOTROS

                                   Opinion of the Court

Judge Shirley’s Show Cause Order was presided over by Judge Ridgeway, who had

had no previous involvement with Respondent or the events leading up to the Show

Cause Order. At the hearing on 1 June 2018, Respondent represented himself, cross-

examined the State’s witnesses, and presented evidence. Respondent, however, failed

to attend the second day of the hearing on 6 June 2018. Based on these facts, we

conclude Respondent was provided due process.

                            IV. Disability Inactive Status

      Lastly, Respondent challenges Conclusions 4 through 7, which state as follows:

         4. [Respondent’s] conduct, as set out in the Findings of Fact above,
         demonstrates that [Respondent] suffers from a mental or physical
         condition that materially impairs his performance, judgment or
         competence as an attorney.

         5. Due to [Respondent’s] inability to effectively handle his clients’
         matters, and the delays caused by his appearances in court in an
         impaired condition, his continuing to practice law poses a threat
         of significant potential harm to his clients, to the public, to the
         profession, and to the administration of justice.

         6. It is in the best interest of [Respondent’s] clients, the public,
         the profession and the administration of justice that [Respondent]
         should be placed on disability inactive status until [Respondent]
         has been evaluated and treated for his impaired condition.

         7. It is in the best interest of [Respondent], his clients, the public,
         the profession and the administration of justice for [Respondent]
         to undergo, under the supervision of the Lawyers Assistance
         Program (“LAP”) or some other qualified provider approved by
         this Court, a substance abuse evaluation, a psychiatric evaluation
         and a fitness to practice evaluation, and to follow all treatment
         recommendations found to be appropriate, prior to returning to
         active practice.

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                                    IN RE BOTROS

                                  Opinion of the Court

Respondent essentially argues these Conclusions are not supported by the Findings

because (1) the Findings are not supported by competent evidence and (2) Respondent

had provided a medical opinion to the Deputy Counsel for the State Bar, who had

been appointed to prosecute this matter, on 5 June 2018 that Respondent was

competent to practice law.     With regard to the 5 June 2018 medical opinion,

Respondent failed to appear at the 6 June 2018 hearing and did not present any

evidence of this medical opinion throughout the two hearings. Because this 5 June

2018 medical opinion was not admitted, the trial court did not err by failing to

consider this opinion.

      As for Respondent’s remaining argument, we have already determined the

Findings were supported by competent evidence, and we hold these Findings support

the trial court’s Conclusions. Specifically, the Record shows all six of the State’s

witnesses testified to believing Respondent was impaired on two separate occasions,

29 March 2018 and 6 April 2018. Both Judges Dunston and Shirley testified they

believed it was in Respondent’s best interest, and the interest of the proper

administration of justice, that he should be placed on disability inactive status until

he has been evaluated and treated for his impaired condition. Therefore, we hold the

trial court’s Conclusions of Law are supported by the Findings of Fact and the trial

court did not abuse its discretion by placing Respondent on disability inactive status.

                                     Conclusion

                                         - 26 -
                                 IN RE BOTROS

                               Opinion of the Court

      Accordingly, based on the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s

Disability Order.

      AFFIRMED.

      Judges ZACHARY and BERGER concur.

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