In re Lever

Catterson, J. (dissenting).

Because I believe that a convicted and registered sex offender has forfeited the privilege of admission to the bar and the elevated status of an officer of the court, I must respectfully take the unusual step in a disciplinary proceeding and dissent.1

It is uncontested that in July 2004, while using his law office computer, respondent, then 30-years old and a patent lawyer, logged onto an Internet instant-messaging service and entered a chat room specifically targeting “older men and younger women.” He commenced an online conversation with a female who claimed she…