In Re Demergian

*289Opinion

THE COURT.

We review the recommendation of the Review Department of the State Bar Court that petitioner David Kirkor Demergian be disbarred. That recommendation was based on petitioner’s 1986 conviction after a plea of guilty to misdemeanor grand theft (Pen. Code, § 17, subd. (b)(5)), stemming from his misappropriation of over $25,000 from a client trust account. Petitioner asserts disbarment is excessive in light of his mitigating evidence. In the alternative, petitioner claims his hearing before a retired judge and the denial of his request for a three-member hearing panel violated…