Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of North Dakota v. Donald L. Peterson

Summary

The Supreme Court of North Dakota disbarred Donald L. Peterson for multiple violations of professional conduct rules, including lack of diligence and communication, false notarization, filing a purportedly forged affidavit, and submitting an order bearing a forged judicial signature. The Court rejected the Hearing Panel's recommendation of a one-year suspension and ordered Peterson to pay $4,156.38 in disciplinary proceeding costs.

Holdings

1. Disbarment was warranted because Peterson engaged in serious intentional misconduct involving false swearing, misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, and dishonesty that seriously adversely reflected on his fitness to practice law.
2. Peterson was required to pay $4,156.38 in costs and expenses of the disciplinary proceedings.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Peterson's violations of the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct and related disciplinary rules warranted a sanction more severe than the hearing panel's recommended one-year suspension.
2. Whether disbarment was generally appropriate under N.D. Std. Imposing Lawyer Sanctions 5.11 for intentional conduct involving false swearing, fraud, misrepresentation, forgery, and dishonesty seriously adversely reflecting on fitness to practice law.

Disposition

other