Fourth Sanction Is Disbarment

The California State Bar Court has recommended the disbarment of an attorney who had been the subject of three prior disciplinary proceedings. In the present matter, he had been convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice, which is a moral turpitude misedemeanor. He had failed to report the conviction to the State Bar.

The court rejected the suggestion that the disbarment standard requires a "common thread or repetitive pattern of misconduct in [the attorney's] four discipline records." The prior discipline, present conviction and absence of compelling mitigation warrants disbarment. (Mike Frisch)