Second Bite Allowed

In another interesting decision from Georgia involving reciprocal discipline, the Supreme Court dismissed as unproven a matter in which the attorney had entered a conditional plea to a public reprimand in Florida. The attorney had entered the conditional plea after denying charges that he had backdated two letters in 1998. He produced testimony under oath from his legal secretary as well as expert testimony.

I have not previously seen a case where an admission for sanction purposes was disregarded in a reciprocal case. Georgia lawyers take note of the benefits of an Alford plea in bar discipline matters outside of the Peach State. (Mike Frisch)