Summary
The Minnesota Supreme Court revoked Alfred Aaron Griffin’s conditional reinstatement after he failed to provide proof of passing the professional responsibility portion of the state bar examination and failed to respond to an order to show cause. The court ordered that Griffin be indefinitely suspended, effective 10 days after filing, while permitting him to seek reinstatement upon proof of a passing examination score.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether Griffin's conditional reinstatement should be revoked and whether he should be indefinitely suspended after failing to provide timely proof of passing the MPRE and failing to show cause against suspension.
Holdings
- A lawyer subject to the examination requirement who fails to timely provide proof of successful completion, without obtaining a waiver or demonstrating good cause, may have conditional reinstatement revoked and be suspended pending successful completion of the examination.
Key quotations
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that respondent Alfred Aaron Griffin’s conditional reinstatement is revoked and that he is indefinitely suspended, effective 10 days from the date of the filing of this order.” (836 N.W.2d at 525)
Factual background
Griffin was suspended from practicing law for at least 60 days and was required to pass the professional responsibility portion of the state bar examination within one year of the suspension order. Although conditionally reinstated, he failed to provide proof by August 1, 2013, that he had passed the MPRE. He also failed to respond to the court's order to show cause why he should not be suspended.
Procedural history
The court previously suspended Alfred Aaron Griffin for a minimum of 60 days and required him to successfully complete the professional responsibility portion of the state bar examination within one year. The court conditionally reinstated Griffin, repeating the examination requirement and warning that failure to comply would result in automatic suspension. After Griffin failed to provide proof of passing the MPRE by August 1, 2013, the court issued an order to show cause; Griffin did not respond. The court then revoked his conditional reinstatement and indefinitely suspended him.