Summary
This Nebraska Supreme Court opinion addresses the voluntary surrender of a lawyer's license to practice law following multiple criminal convictions and an administrative suspension. The respondent, Jonathan M. Lawler, waived his right to a hearing and consented to disbarment after admitting to violations of professional conduct rules related to his DUI conviction, drug possession, and disorderly conduct charges. The court accepted the voluntary surrender and entered an immediate judgment of disbarment, directing the respondent to comply with disciplinary rules and pay associated costs.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the Nebraska Supreme Court may accept a voluntary surrender of a law license and enter a judgment of disbarment without a hearing under Neb. Ct. R. § 3-315.
Holdings
- The court holds that, pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-315, a member may voluntarily surrender his or her license, and the court may accept that surrender and enter a judgment of disbarment without a hearing.
Key quotations
“Neb. Ct. R. § 3-315 of the disciplinary rules provides in pertinent part: (A) Once a Grievance, a Complaint, or a Formal Charge has been filed, suggested, or indicated against a member, the member may voluntarily surrender his or her license.” (at 857)
“Upon due consideration, the court accepts the respondent’s voluntary surrender of his license to practice law, finds that the respondent should be disbarred, and hereby orders him disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Nebraska, effective immediately.” (at 858)
Factual background
Lawler was admitted to the Nebraska bar in 2017. He was convicted of operating while intoxicated in 2022, administratively suspended for failure to complete CLE, later convicted of possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct, and had his probation revoked. He filed a voluntary surrender of his license, admitting the misconduct and waiving any hearing.
Procedural history
The respondent voluntarily surrendered his law license on March 7, 2025. The Supreme Court considered the surrender and entered a judgment of disbarment.