State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association v. Lockard

Summary

The Oklahoma Supreme Court imposed final discipline on James Harry Lockard after he entered no-contest pleas to misdemeanor domestic assault and battery and public intoxication charges. The Court suspended him from practicing law for six months, measured from the date of his interim suspension, while considering his substance-abuse treatment and other mitigating evidence.

Holdings

1. Lockard's conviction and deferred sentence for domestic assault and battery and public intoxication demonstrated his unfitness to practice law and constituted a sufficient basis for attorney discipline.
2. Lockard was suspended from the practice of law for six months, measured from the date of his interim suspension.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Lockard's misdemeanor convictions and deferred sentence demonstrated unfitness to practice law under Rule 7 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings.
2. What level of attorney discipline was appropriate in light of the domestic-violence offenses, substance-abuse mitigation, rehabilitation efforts, and other circumstances.

Disposition

other