Summary
The Georgia Supreme Court grants Anson A. Adams’s petition for reinstatement after his prior suspension stemming from criminal convictions and related professional misconduct. The Court orders reinstatement subject to conditions including continuing legal education and presentation of a program for third-year law students.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether Adams's petition for voluntary discipline should be construed as a petition for reinstatement because the requested suspension end date had passed while he remained continuously suspended.
- Whether reinstatement to the practice of law was appropriate, subject to the proposed continuing-legal-education and law-student-program conditions.
Holdings
- A petition seeking suspension through a date that has passed, filed by an attorney who has remained suspended since 2007, may be construed as a petition for reinstatement.
- Reinstatement was appropriate where the attorney demonstrated rehabilitation, fitness to practice, remorse, cooperation, good character, and the absence of client harm, subject to specified conditions.
Key quotations
“Having reviewed the petition, we agree that reinstatement is appropriate.” (667)
“Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that Anson A. Adams be reinstated to the practice of law in this State.” (667)
Factual background
Anson A. Adams, admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2006, was convicted in 2007 of aggravated assault, attempting to elude police, reckless driving, and two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol. He received a six-year First Offender sentence, with three years to serve, and was suspended from practicing law until further order of the Supreme Court of Georgia. During and after his incarceration, he completed alcohol and drug rehabilitation and anger-management programs, obtained a psychologist's favorable fitness assessment, and presented evidence of remorse, rehabilitation, and good character. No client was harmed by the conduct underlying the proceedings.
Procedural history
Adams had previously been suspended until further order of the Court after the Court accepted his petition for voluntary discipline following criminal convictions. He later petitioned for final discipline through a specified date and proposed conditions for returning to practice. The Supreme Court construed the petition as a reinstatement request, accepted it, and ordered reinstatement subject to the proposed conditions.