Because actually disbarring him would just have been too mean, at least in the eyes of the Nevada Supreme Court. Douglas Crawford blamed depression and gambling addiction for his client thefts. [ABA Journal]
Because actually disbarring him would just have been too mean, at least in the eyes of the Nevada Supreme Court. Douglas Crawford blamed depression and gambling addiction for his client thefts. [ABA Journal]
5 Comments
Bar Association discipline is a sick joke: Criminals judging other criminals. Consumer control of the bar is obviously needed. Remove attorney discipline and place it in the hands of independent consumer agencies.
So, he stole $400K, why was he not arrested and brought to trial? This is a truely egregious thumbing of the nose at the rule of law.
I agree with Roy B. Isn’t this a felony and why was his licence to practice law not revoked? Why is he not in prison?
To be fair, he can’t simply resume his practice in five years. Regaining his license is conditioned on his making restitution and on successful treatment for his gambling addiction. Without knowing more details of the case, I don’t think that this is necessarily a bad decision. Somebody who shows that he is without a conscience and vicious, or whose problems, however understandable, show no sign of terminating, should be struck off, but in a case like this, where this is arguably a decent person with a problem, it seems reasonable to give him a chance to clean up his life.
Everyone develops a conscience when they are caught.
Bob