Summary
The Nebraska Supreme Court accepted Bilal Ahmed Khaleeq’s voluntary surrender of his Nebraska law license after he pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. The court entered an immediate judgment of disbarment and ordered compliance with applicable disciplinary rules and payment of costs and expenses.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the respondent's voluntary surrender of his Nebraska law license satisfied the requirements of Neb. Ct. R. § 3-315.
- Whether the Nebraska Supreme Court should accept the voluntary surrender and enter an immediate judgment of disbarment.
Holdings
- The respondent voluntarily surrendered his license in compliance with Neb. Ct. R. § 3-315 because he knowingly did not challenge the allegations and waived all proceedings connected with them.
- The court accepted respondent's voluntary surrender and ordered him disbarred from the practice of law in Nebraska, effective immediately.
Key quotations
“Pursuant to § 3-315 of the disciplinary rules, we find that respondent has voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law and knowingly does not challenge or contest the truth of the allegations that were made against him in connection with his federal conviction.” (303 Neb. at 763)
“The court accepts respondent’s voluntary surrender of his license to practice law, finds that respondent should be disbarred, and hereby orders him disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Nebraska, effective immediately.” (303 Neb. at 764)
Factual background
Bilal Ahmed Khaleeq was admitted to practice law in Nebraska in 2007 and also practiced in Texas. He pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 371 and 8 U.S.C. § 1325(c), receiving a six-month sentence and a $10,000 fine. Nebraska disciplinary formal charges alleged that this conduct violated his attorney oath and professional-conduct rules. Khaleeq thereafter voluntarily surrendered his Nebraska law license, knowingly declined to contest the allegations, waived further proceedings, and consented to immediate disbarment.
Procedural history
The relator filed formal charges on October 9, 2018, alleging misconduct arising from respondent's federal conviction. On June 14, 2019, respondent voluntarily surrendered his license, admitted that he did not contest the allegations, waived further proceedings, and consented to disbarment. The Nebraska Supreme Court accepted the surrender and entered judgment of disbarment.