Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Wherry

We adopt the findings, conclusions, and recommendation of the board. As we noted in Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Belock (1998), 82 Ohio St.3d 98, 100, 694 N.E.2d 897, 899, “The continuing public confidence in the judicial system and the bar requires that the strictest discipline be imposed in misappropriation cases.” The appropriate sanction when a lawyer knowingly converts funds for the lawyer’s benefit is disbarment. Cf. Cuyahoga Cty. Bar Assn. v. Churilla (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 348, 678 N.E.2d 515. In this case, respondent not only converted funds but also filed false reports with the probate…