Again

The Idaho Supreme Court has imposed an interim suspension of an attorney based on a recent affidavit and three declarations that the court has sealed.

The Court being fully advised and after review of this matter, it clearly appears that from the specific facts reflected in the Petition, Affidavit and Declarations that Respondent R. Aaron Morriss poses a substantial threat of irreparable harm to the public. 

We had previously reported on this post from the web page of the Idaho State Bar

On  February 25, 2015, the Idaho Supreme Court entered a Disciplinary Order suspending  Nampa attorney R. Aaron Morriss from the practice of law for a period of five  years, with all but two years of such suspension withheld, effective January  30, 2015. 

The  Idaho Supreme Court found that Mr. Morriss violated I.R.P.C. 1.7(a)(2)  [Conflict of interest based on personal interests of the lawyer]; 1.8(j)  [Sexual relations with a client]; and 8.4(d) [Conduct prejudicial to the administration  of justice].  The Idaho Supreme Court’s  Disciplinary Order followed a stipulated resolution of an Idaho State Bar  disciplinary proceeding in which Mr. Morriss admitted that he violated those  Rules.

The  formal charge case related to Mr. Morriss’s relationships with two female  clients.  With respect to the first  client, Mr. Morris texted the client explicit pictures of himself and engaged  in sexual relations with the client during his representation of her in a  custody case.  With respect to the second  client, Mr. Morriss texted the client explicit pictures of himself, took  explicit pictures of the client, and engaged in sexual relations with the  client during his representation of her in a parental termination case.

The Disciplinary Order provided  that upon reinstatement, if any, after the two-year period of imposed  suspension, Mr. Morriss will serve a two-year period of probation with terms  and conditions that include counseling and the immediate imposition of the  withheld period of suspension if he violates the terms of his probation or admits  or is found to have violated any Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct for which  a public sanction is imposed for conduct that occurred during the probationary period.

He was reinstated in 2017. Mike Frisch)