Summary
The Iowa Supreme Court reviewed attorney disciplinary proceedings arising from Abraham K. Watkins’s sexual harassment of female employees while practicing law and serving as the Van Buren County Attorney. The court held that Watkins violated Iowa Rule of Professional Conduct 32:8.4(g) and imposed an indefinite suspension of his law license, with no possibility of reinstatement for six months from the filing of the opinion.
Holdings
- Watkins violated Iowa Rule of Professional Conduct 32:8.4(g), which prohibits an attorney from engaging in sexual harassment or other unlawful discrimination in the practice of law.
- Watkins's license to practice law was suspended for an indefinite period, with no possibility of reinstatement for six months from the filing of the opinion.
Questions Presented
- Whether Watkins violated Iowa Rule of Professional Conduct 32:8.4(g) by engaging in sexual harassment in the practice of law.
- What sanction was appropriate for Watkins's misconduct.
Disposition
other
Cases Cited (18)
- State v. Watkins, 914 N.W.2d 827, 847-48 (Iowa 2018)(followed as procedural history)
- Iowa Supreme Ct. Att'y Disciplinary Bd. v. Stansberry, 922 N.W.2d 591, 593, 597-600 (Iowa 2019)(followed and applied)
- Iowa Supreme Ct. Att'y Disciplinary Bd. v. Nine, 920 N.W.2d 825, 828 (Iowa 2018)(followed)
- Iowa Supreme Ct. Att'y Disciplinary Bd. v. Johnson, 884 N.W.2d 772, 777 (Iowa 2016)(followed)
- Iowa Supreme Ct. Att'y Disciplinary Bd. v. Moothart, 860 N.W.2d 598, 602-04 (Iowa 2015)(followed and expanded)
- Iowa Supreme Ct. Att'y Disciplinary Bd. v. Powell, 726 N.W.2d 397, 408 (Iowa 2007)(followed)
- Disciplinary Counsel v. Skolnick, 104 N.E.3d 775, 776, 778 (Ohio 2018)(persuasive comparison)
- People v. Lowery, 894 P.2d 758, 758, 760-61 (Colo. 1995) (en banc) (per curiam)(persuasive comparison)
- In re Henderson, 343 P.3d 518, 520-22, 524, 529 (Kan. 2015) (per curiam)(persuasive comparison)
- Iowa Supreme Ct. Att'y Disciplinary Bd. v. Lynch, 901 N.W.2d 501, 511 n.5 (Iowa 2017)(followed)
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Cited In (0)
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Court Document
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