In re Etkin

Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 1956. He maintained a law office in Schenectady.

On February 28, 2000, respondent pleaded guilty to two felonies, bribing a witness (Penal Law § 215.00 [a]) and defrauding the government (Penal Law § 195.20). Pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90 (4) (a), an attorney convicted of a criminal offense classified as a felony under the laws of this State shall cease to be an attorney upon such conviction. Respondent’s plea of guilty was equivalent to a conviction for attorney discipline purposes (see, e.g., Matter of Russell, 216 AD2d 790).

We therefore…