FILED
Feb 25 2022
United States District Court
Northern District of Ohio
General Order
GENERAL ORDER NO. 2022-05
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
)
IN THE MATTER OF ATTORNEY )
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS )
INDEFINITE SUSPENSION FROM ) ORDER NO. 2022-05
PRACTICE FOR FAILURE TO PAY )
REGISTRATION FEES TO THE )
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO )
)
On November 2, 2021, The Supreme Court of Ohio suspended 240 attorneys from the
practice of law for failure to pay registration fees pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VI(2), which
requires attorneys admitted to the practice of law in Ohio to file a certificate of
registration for the 2021/2023 attorney-registration biennium on or before September 1,
2021. 1
This Court having provided more than an additional sixty days from the issuance of The
Supreme Court of Ohio’s order for the attorneys to rectify their registration status, this
Court hereby indefinitely suspends the attorneys listed in “Attachment A” from practicing
before this Court.
Readmission to practice before this Court requires the filing of an Application for
Reinstatement pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.7(i) and Local Criminal Rule 57.7(i) with
Sandy Opacich, Clerk of Court, Carl B. Stokes U.S. Court House, 801 West Superior
Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1830, ATTN: Committee on Complaints and Policy
Compliance. The application should include an affidavit stating that the jurisdiction
1
Gov.Bar R. VI(2) requires attorneys admitted to the practice of law in Ohio to file a certificate of
registration for the 2021/2023 attorney-registration biennium on or before September 1, 2021. Gov.Bar R.
VI(10)(A) establishes that an attorney who fails to file the certificate of registration on or before
September 1, 2021, but pays within 60 days of the deadline shall be assessed a late fee. Gov.Bar R.
VI(10)(B) provides that an attorney who fails to file a certificate of registration and pay the fees either
timely or within the late-registration period shall be notified of apparent noncompliance and that if the
attorney fails to file evidence of compliance with Gov.Bar R. VI or to come into compliance within 60 days
of the deadline, the attorney will be suspended from the practice of law.
which entered the order of discipline on which this Court based its discipline has
reinstated the attorney along with a Certificate of Good Standing.
Upon receipt of the application, the Clerk shall refer the application to the Committee on
Complaints and Policy Compliance, which shall schedule a hearing. At the hearing, the
attorney shall have the burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that
he/she has the moral qualifications, competency and learning in the law required for
admission to practice law before this Court and that his/her resumption of the practice of
law will not be detrimental to the integrity and standing of the bar or to the administration
of justice, or subversive of the public interest. Should the Court find the attorney is found
unfit to resume practice before this Court, the application shall be dismissed. No
application for reinstatement shall be filed within one year following an adverse
judgment upon an application for reinstatement filed by or on behalf of the same
attorney. If the attorney is found fit to resume practice before this Court, the judgment
shall reinstate him/her, provided that, if the attorney has been suspended for two years
or more, reinstatement is conditioned upon the attendance of the attorney at a Federal
Court Practice Seminar. A copy of the Certificate of Training for successfully completing
the Federal Court Practice Seminar should accompany the Application for
Reinstatement. Registration in the Court's CM/ECF system will also be required.
All attorneys admitted to practice in this Court are required to submit a written notice of
a change of business address and/or email address to the Clerk upon the change in
address, pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.5(I) and Local Criminal Rule 57.5(I). Any
attorney admitted to practice before this Court who fails to comply with Local Civil Rule
83.5(I) and Local Criminal Rule 57.5(I), makes the Clerk of Court his or her agent for the
service of any notice provided in any disciplinary matter proceeding before this Court,
pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.7(k) and Local Criminal Rule 57.7(k).
If the attorney has been suspended for five years or more, reinstatement may also be
conditioned upon furnishing proof of competency and learning in the law, which proof
may include certification by the bar examiners of a state or other jurisdiction of the
attorney’s successful completion of an examination for admission to practice
subsequent to the date of suspension.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
FOR THE COURT
Patricia A. Gaughan
Chief Judge
