People v. Martin

The lawyer respondent in this discipline case was convicted of the third-degree sexual assault of a client. A hearing panel of the Supreme Court Grievance Committee approved the findings of a hearing board, but modified the board’s recommendation of a ninety-day suspension to a suspension for six months. The respondent excepted to the panel’s recommendation on the ground that a six-month suspension was too severe and was punitive in nature. After considering the seriousness of the offense of which the respondent was convicted and the nature of the professional misconduct, however, we order…