Kelly v. State Bar

Opinion

THE COURT.

This is a proceeding to review the State Bar Court’s unanimous recommendation that petitioner John Patrick Kelly 1 be disbarred for misappropriation of client trust funds and related misconduct. Our general practice, which is supported by the new Standards for Attorney Sanctions for Professional Misconduct (Rules Proc. of State Bar, div. V, eff. Jan. 1, 1986) (Standards), has been to impose strong disciplinary measures where a substantial amount of client funds has been misappropriated and no compelling mitigating circumstances are present. Since petitioner’s undisputed…