Committee on Professional Ethics & Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Ass'n v. Baudino

A majority of this court has imposed a six-month suspension of respondent’s license to practice law for failure to timely file his tax returns and for false certification on client security questionnaires. I do not disagree with the determination that respondent violated rules of professional conduct nor is the sanction imposed inconsistent with the many suspensions imposed on lawyers for similar misconduct in the past. I believe, however, that the six-month suspension is excessive.

The majority opinion repeats our often-stated rule that the purpose in imposing sanctions is to deter other…