Scooter Libby Suspended

The D.C. Court of Appeals suspended I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby on April 3 based on his recent conviction. The court ordered the Board on Professional Responsibility to determine whether the crimes for which he was convicted involved moral turpitude. If so, disbarment is mandatory. The precedent where the court held that disbarment is the only sanction for a crime of moral turpitude involved proceedings based on the conviction of Charles Colson. Libby had previously been administratively suspended for non-payment of bar dues.

If Libby is pardoned, he may still be sanctioned for misconduct, but not for the conviction. The court so held in the bar discipline case against Elliott Abrams. (Mike Frisch)