In Re Complaint as to the Conduct of Coyner

This is a lawyer disciplinary proceeding in which the accused was found guilty by a trial panel of a total of nine violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility 1 arising out of three separate matters. The trial panel imposed a six-month suspension from the practice of law, with the further provision that the accused be required to apply for reinstatement formally. The accused appeals from that decision. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the trial panel’s findings respecting the accused’s guilt, but modify its choice of sanction.

We make the following preliminary observations. The…