Court Opinion

ID: 9659145
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:33:17.406642+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:04.511457
License: Public Domain

MILLER, Chief Justice
(concurring specially).
While recognizing that the majority’s discipline seems to be quite harsh, I feel compelled to join it. I would have preferred a 2- or 3-year suspension, but was unable to persuade other justices that such was the appropriate discipline. My conscience, along with my perceived obligation to the bench, bar, and public, will not allow me to join Justices Amundson and Wuest. I consider their suggestion of a 120-day suspension to be unduly permissive. With the competing, uncompromising positions of the other justices being “set in stone,” I am in the unenviable position of having to select between two alternatives, neither of which is totally acceptable to me. Below I have set forth my rationale for joining Justices Sabers and Henderson.
In Matter of Voorkees, 294 N.W.2d 646, 647-48 (S.D.1980) we set forth the proper, applicable disciplinary standard, saying:
As officers of this court, attorneys are charged with the obedience of the laws of this state and the United States. The intentional violation of those laws by those who are specially trained and knowledgeable of them is particularly unwarranted and constitutes a breach of the attorney’s oath of office. Because of [their] position in society, even minor violations of law by a lawyer tend to lessen public confidence in the legal profession. Obedience of the law exemplifies respect for the law. To lawyers especially, respect for the law must be more than a platitude....
... To determine whether discipline other than disbarment would be appropriate, *687the circumstances surrounding the conviction will be considered, i.e., whether the conduct involved dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; ... whether the conduct adversely reflects upon the attorney’s integrity, competency, or fitness to practice law.
(Quoting Matter of Parker, 269 N.W.2d 779, 780 (S.D.1978)). See also, Discipline of Hendrickson, 456 N.W.2d 140 (S.D.1990); Matter of Looby, 297 N.W.2d 487 (S.D.1980); Matter of Weisensee, 296 N.W.2d 717 (S.D.1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 1032, 101 S.Ct. 1743, 68 L.Ed.2d 227 (1981).
I am convinced that to allow Johnson to first receive the unexplained (or unexplainable) prosecutorial leniency through the dismissal and reduction of the large number of drug offenses, and then be followed by a short suspension as suggested by Justices Amundson and Wuest, would be inappropriate and would subject this court and the legal profession to justifiable public ridicule. Similarly, it would, for reasons articulated in Justice Sabers’ writing, send the wrong message to other attorneys who may be disposed or inclined to participate in the drug environment. Further, to follow the minority’s suggestion would be completely unfair to the vast majority of lawyers who obey the laws and follow the canons of ethics. If I must err in this case, I will do so on the side of elevating the reputation and integrity of the legal profession over concerns for an individual attorney who has, through his own flagrant, unlawful conduct, tarnished the reputation of us all.