2019 Investigative Summary 2

Investigation of Alleged FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ACTIVE BAR LICENSE;
LACK OF CANDOR

An Assistant U.S. Attorney self-reported that she had failed to maintain an active bar license and practiced law without a license while representing the Department of Justice.  OPR’s investigation determined that the attorney represented the United States for 85 days while in a delinquent status.  However, because the Bar retroactively reinstated the attorney’s active bar membership after she paid her dues and reinstatement fees and treated her membership as though she had been continuously active, OPR concluded that the attorney did not commit professional misconduct. 

OPR concluded instead that she exercised poor judgment by failing to take proper steps to ensure that she complied with her obligation to maintain an active bar membership.  In addition, OPR concluded that the attorney committed intentional professional misconduct by violating her duty of candor when she knowingly misrepresented to her supervisors and OPR facts concerning her knowledge that she was in a fee delinquent status and the circumstances under which she learned she was ineligible to practice law.  The attorney resigned from the Department after receiving the draft report.  The matter is under review by the Professional Misconduct Review Unit.