In the MATTER OF, Joseph Peter BARRETT, an Attorney at Law.

In this ethics proceeding, we are called upon to consider whether an attorney who received a 150-day suspension for knowing misappropriation of law firm funds in Utah -- a jurisdiction that applies a preponderance of the evidence standard and recognizes no business dispute defense -- may, based only on the Utah record, be disbarred under New Jersey's clear and convincing evidence standard.

We conclude that in this case, Rule 1:20-14(a), which governs reciprocal discipline, does not permit "substantially different discipline" from that imposed in Utah. R. 1:20-14(a)(4)(E). While a lawyer's…