Bates v. State Bar

Opinion

THE COURT.

The Review Department of the State Bar Court recommends that petitioner David Smith Bates be suspended from the practice of *1058law for three years as discipline for willful misappropriation of client funds, and that execution of his suspension be stayed subject to certain conditions including actual suspension for six months. (Four members of the department voted to impose a one-year or longer actual suspension.) The discipline is the same as recommended by a State Bar referee. Petitioner does not dispute the State Bar’s factual findings but contends the discipline is excessive…