Delay Affects Sanction

The web page of the Colorado Presiding Disciplinary Judge notes a recent reciprocal sanction

The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ stipulation and imposed reciprocal discipline, publicly censuring William M. Magee (attorney registration number 22855). Magee’s public censure took effect August 8, 2024. Magee remains under an order of suspension in Colorado based on reciprocal discipline imposed in 2019.

This reciprocal discipline case arose out of discipline imposed on Magee in Louisiana. In January 2024, the Louisiana Supreme Court publicly censured Magee. Magee’s Louisiana discipline was premised on his conduct in directing his legal assistant to send a settlement counteroffer to an opposing counsel five days after Magee’s suspension from the practice of law took effect in February 2019, constituting the unauthorized practice of law. The Louisiana Supreme Court concluded that Magee should be publicly censured rather than suspended after it determined that the delayed proceeding had prejudiced Magee’s ability to seek reinstatement from his suspension.

(Mike Frisch)