Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Riggs-Horton

Summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio held that Virginia M. Riggs-Horton violated Ohio Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(b) by committing an illegal act that adversely reflected on her honesty or trustworthiness. The court imposed a six-month suspension from the practice of law, stayed in its entirety on the condition that she commit no further misconduct.

Holdings

1. Riggs-Horton violated Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(b) by passing contraband to an incarcerated person in a detention facility, thereby committing an illegal act that adversely reflected on her honesty or trustworthiness.
2. The second alleged violation should be dismissed because the facts did not establish the misconduct by clear and convincing evidence.
3. A six-month suspension from the practice of law, fully stayed on the condition that Riggs-Horton commit no further misconduct, was the appropriate sanction.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Riggs-Horton violated Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(b) by committing an illegal act that adversely reflected on her honesty or trustworthiness.
2. Whether the evidence established the second alleged professional-conduct violation by clear and convincing evidence.
3. What sanction was appropriate for the established misconduct.

Disposition

other