Cruzat v. Board of Trustees

Respondents Betty Kitch and the law firm of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather and Geraldson appeal from an order of contempt entered against them after it was revealed that Kitch, a member of the law firm, had moved for admission pro hac vice of a disbarred attorney who had misrepresented the status of his license to practice law in his home State. On appeal, both respondents raise the issue of whether they can be held in criminal contempt of court for aiding and abetting a nonlawyer in the unauthorized practice of law when it was agreed by all parties that they had no knowledge or intent to…