Opinions

• Jurisdiction: Colorado,United States
• Citation: Vol. 32 No. 8 Pg. 117
• Pages: 117
• Publication year: 2003

32 Colo.Law. 117 Colorado Lawyer 2003.

2003, August, Pg. 117. Opinions

---

117

Vol. 32, No. 8, Pg. 117

The Colorado Lawyer
August 2003
Vol. 32, No. 8 [Page 117]

From the Courts
Colorado Disciplinary Cases
Opinions

The Colorado Supreme Court has adopted a series of changes to the attorney regulation system, including the establishment of the Office of the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, pursuant to C.R.C.P. 251.16. The Court also made extensive revisions to the rules governing the disciplinary process, repealing C.R.C.P. 241 et seq., and replacing those rules with C.R.C.P 251 et seq. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge presides over attorney regulation proceedings and issues orders together with a two-member hearing board at trials and hearings. The Rules of Civil Procedure and the Rules of Evidence apply to all attorney regulation proceedings before the Presiding Disciplinary Judge. See C.R.C.P. 251.18(d).
The Colorado Lawyer publishes the summaries and full-text Opinions of the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, Roger L Keithley, and a two-member hearing board, whose members are drawn from a pool appointed by the Supreme Court. For space purposes, accompanying Exhibits may not be printed.
These Opinions may be appealed in accordance with C.R.C.P 251.27.
The full-text Opinions, along with their summaries, are available on the CBA home page at http://www.cobar.org/tcl/. See page 116 for details.Opinions, including Exhibits, and summaries are also available on LexisNexisTM at http://www.lexis.com/research by clicking on States LegalU.S./Colorado/Cases and Court Rules/By Court/Colorado Supreme Court Disciplinary Opinions.

Case No. 03PDJ001

Complainant:

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF Colorado

Respondent:

LAWRENCE R. HILL

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING IN DISCIPLINE BEFORE
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDING DISCIPLINARY JUDGE

June 11, 2003

OPINION AND ORDER IMPOSING SANCTIONS

Opinion by a Hearing Board consisting of the Presiding Officer Thomas J. Overton, and Hearing Board Members David M. Herrera, and Sisto J. Mazza, both members of the bar.

SANCTION IMPOSED: ATTORNEY SUSPENDED FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, ALL STAYED PENDING A TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF PROBATION WITH CONDITIONS

A trial in this matter was held on May 13, 2003, before a Hearing Board consisting of Presiding Officer Thomas J. Overton and two Hearing Board Members, David M. Herrera and Sisto J. Mazza, both members of the bar. Gregory G. Sapakoff, Assistant Regulation Counsel, represented the People of the State of Colorado (the "People"). Craig L. Truman represented respondent Lawrence R. Hill, ("Hill"), who was also present.

At the trial, the People's exhibits 1 and 2, and Hill's exhibits A, B and C were admitted into evidence. Lawrence Hill testified on his own behalf. Hill confessed to Complainant's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, which was approved on February 19, 2003. The essential factual allegations were therefore deemed admitted. The Hearing Board considered the testimony of the witness, the exhibits admitted into evidence, the facts established by the entry of judgment on the pleadings, and made the following findings of fact that were established by clear and convincing evidence.

I. FINDINGS OF FACT

Lawrence R. Hill has taken and subscribed the oath of admission, was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court on May 26, 1988, and is registered upon the official records of the Court, attorney registration number 17447. He is subject to the jurisdiction of this court pursuant to C.R.C.P. 251.1(b).

On or about April 23, 2002, Hill pled guilty to a charge of third-degree assault, in violation of §18-3-204, 66 C.R.S (2002)...