In the Matter John W. Bledsoe, III

Summary

The South Carolina Supreme Court accepted an Agreement for Discipline by Consent and publicly reprimanded attorney John W. Bledsoe, III. The court found that his lack of diligence in preparing a child-support order and his solicitation of a sexual relationship with a client violated specified professional-conduct rules, and ordered him to complete an ethics school.

Holdings

1. Respondent's drafting error and delay in correcting the child-support order violated Rule 1.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, requiring a lawyer to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.
2. Respondent's request that a client display her breasts violated Rule 1.7(a)(2) and Rule 8.4(e) of the Rules of Professional Conduct because his personal interest created a significant risk of materially limiting the representation and the conduct was prejudicial to the administration of justice.
3. The admitted violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct constituted grounds for lawyer discipline under Rule 7(a)(1) of the Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement.
4. The admitted misconduct warranted a public reprimand, conditioned on respondent's completion of the Legal Ethics and Practice Program Ethics School within one year of the opinion.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Agreement for Discipline by Consent should be accepted.
2. Whether respondent's admitted conduct warranted a public reprimand and related educational condition.

Disposition

other