Sexton v. Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct

Darrell Hickman, Justice.

Sam Sexton, Jr., a Fort Smith lawyer, had his law license suspended for one year by the Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct. We must reverse the decision because Sexton was not charged with a violation of a rule of professional conduct that was in existence at the time of his conduct. The committee may proceed against Sexton if he is properly charged.

The charge arose from conduct which occurred in 1983. According to the findings of the committee, when Sexton settled a claim for Danny Haffelder, who was injured in a motorcycle accident, Sexton suggested…