Courtesy Plea

The D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility has recomended disbarment of an attorney who had resigned in California and been convicted of bankruptcy fraud in federal court. The Board concluded that disbarment was required as the crime inherently involves moral turpitude. It rejected a suggestion filed by the attorney that his plea to the crimes "under certain assurances which did not materialize" was a "courtesy" to the California Bar and the Governor because his counsel had been appointed to represent Charles Rathbun in a high-profile criminal matter. (Mike Frisch)