OPINION
WATT, J.:
¶ 1 On April 1, 2015, the OBA initiated this summary disciplinary proceeding against Respondent, pursuant to Rules 7.1
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶ 2 On December 30, 2014, the police responded to a call at Respondent's residence after he pointed a gun at his ex-wife and threatened her life. Respondent's adult daughter and two adult sons also lived in his home. Earlier that day, at the request of his daughter, Respondent contacted his ex-wife to come and pick up their daughter from his home. The daughter was recovering from a medical procedure and wanted her mother to take care of her for a few days.
¶ 3 Respondent's twenty-seven year marriage to his ex-wife ended six months before this incident.
¶ 4 Respondent had been on an alcohol drinking binge that day and he was agitated and hostile by the time his ex-wife was inside of his home. The record is not clear how the ex-wife gained access inside of Respondent's home.
¶ 5 The ex-wife and 3 adult children exited Respondent's home unharmed before the police arrived. A police officer went to Respondent's front door and asked him to come outside. He was uncooperative and resistive to multiple requests by the police, and he refused to come out. The Special Operation Team ("SOT") of the police force was eventually called in and they took over negotiations. There was a stand-off for several hours and the SOT eventually had to use tear gas to force Respondent out of his home. Respondent had slurred speech, a heavy odor of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet when he exited the house.
¶ 6 Respondent was arrested on the night of the incident and he was initially charged with two separate felony counts: (1) pointing a firearm; and (2) resisting an officer. On April 10, 2015, Respondent entered into a
¶ 7 Respondent testified that shortly after this incident, he was hospitalized for approximately one month with serious medical issues unrelated to the events of this night.
¶ 8 At the time of this incident, Respondent was suffering from alcohol and opiate addictions, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD") related in part from abuse in the marriage. The OBA expert testified the documentation she reviewed reflected there was tremendous abuse by the ex-wife that went on for some period of time during their marriage.
¶ 9 In addition to substance abuse and PTSD, Respondent was diagnosed as having other mental health issues. He received follow up and treatment for all diagnosed conditions. The OBA expert testified that Respondent is considered to be in full remission with respect to his alcohol and opiate addictions and stable in all respects.
¶ 10 Respondent has expressed genuine regret and remorse over his actions of December 30, 2014 and its impact and disgrace to the legal profession. The record reflects that since the events of that day, Respondent has sought out treatment and demonstrated a commitment to recovery. Random drug and alcohol random tests have all been negative. There have been no other allegations raised
¶ 11 After the resolution of the criminal matter, in April, 2015, the ex-wife again filed an application seeking a protective order against Respondent. The court dismissed her application. In that same month, Respondent filed for another protective order alleging the ex-wife was again harassing him and threatening harm.
¶ 12 During the hearing before the Professional Responsibility Tribunal ("PRT"), Respondent admitted he had a gun on the day in question. In fact, Respondent testified that he always had a gun nearby because of his fear about what his ex-wife had done to him.
¶ 13 In December, 2014, Respondent had a law firm with a staff of approximately 12 people. He described his law practice as "shaky" and he wanted to quit before this incident.
¶ 14 On April 16, 2015, the OBA filed a Notice and Transmittal of Criminal Record Relating to Plea of Guilty as a result of Respondent's plea. On April 27, 2015, this Court entered its order of immediate interim suspension. A hearing before the PRT was held on August 20, 2015 and August 10, 2016. After considering all of the testimony and exhibits, the PRT issued a report determining Respondent's conduct constituted a violation of RGDP 7.1 and 7.2. The PRT recommended that he be suspended for a period of two years and one day.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶ 15 This Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in bar disciplinary matters to exercise its constitutional, non-delegable power to regulate the practice of law and ethics. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Passmore, 2011 OK 90, 264 P.3d 1238, (hereinafter "Passmore"); State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Whitebook, 2010 OK 72, 242 P.3d 517. Protection of the public and purification of the Bar are the primary purposes of disciplinary proceedings rather than to punish the
¶ 16 The record must be sufficient for this Court to conduct an inquiry into the essential facts. Givens, 2014 OK 103, ¶ 9, 343 P.3d at 217. On April 16, 2015, the OBA filed certified copies of the criminal information, plea of "no contest" to a misdemeanor, pointing a firearm, and the deferred sentence. Pursuant to Rule 7.2 RGDP, the judgment and sentence constitute conclusive evidence of the commission of the crime upon which the judgment and sentence was based and shall be the basis for discipline. The record consists of these certified copies, the briefs of the parties, attached exhibits and transcripts of proceedings held by the PRT. We find there is a sufficient record for our de novo review.
ANALYSIS
¶ 17 In a summary disciplinary proceeding we address two issues: 1) whether the criminal conviction demonstrates the lawyer's unfitness to practice law, and if so, 2) determine the appropriate discipline to be imposed. Givens, 2014 OK 103, ¶ 10, 343 P.3d at 217.
¶ 18 We begin with examining Respondent's criminal conduct to determine if it reflects his unfitness to practice law. Respondent pointed a gun at his ex-wife and threatened her life when she was inside of his home. He pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of pointing a firearm. The Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct ("ORPC"), 5 O.S. 2011, ch. 1, app. 3-A, provide guidance at Rule 8.4 (b) which defines professional misconduct as follows:
Comment 2 to Rule 8.4 ORPC provides in pertinent part:
¶ 19 The OBA disciplinary action against Respondent was initiated in response to Respondent's plea of "no contest" to this misdemeanor charge. Respondent was also very intoxicated on December 30 and resistive to the police efforts creating an extended stand off with the police. Relying on similar recent decisions,
¶ 20 The second issue to resolve in a summary proceeding is to determine the appropriate discipline under these circumstances. The PRT has recommended suspension for two years and a day. Although this recommendation is given careful consideration, it is not binding on this Court. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Murdock, 2010 OK 32, ¶ 6, 236 P.3d 107, 111.
¶ 22 In Givens, the attorney had a history of domestic violence involving physical altercations with his minor son. The attorney pled guilty on two misdemeanor charges of domestic abuse after punching his son in the mouth causing a cut and swollen lip when he was intoxicated. Givens received an eighteen month deferred sentence. Givens made matters much worse, while on probation, he again became intoxicated and allegedly struck his son in the back of his head. Givens' son called 911 and the police responded. This time, Givens was charged in municipal court with disturbing the peace and was sentenced to the Tulsa county jail for one year. This sentence was suspended and he was ordered to undergo counseling, take random urine analysis tests, attend and complete a domestic violence program and ordered to not consume un-prescribed medication or illegal drugs.
¶ 23 After his subsequent municipal charges, Givens' initial deferred sentence was accelerated. Givens failed to notify the OBA about his initial conviction until more than two years after this initial plea. He waited more than one year to notify the OBA of his second municipal charge and plea. This Court ordered an interim suspension pursuant to Rule 7.3 RGDP upon learning of his conviction. During the time of his interim suspension, he had an alcohol related relapse and was not active in substance abuse recovery. We expressed concern over there was a "pattern of domestic violence" with two separate incidents involving altercations with his minor son. Another disturbing factor was during the period of his suspension, he engaged in actively attempting to deceive this Court with substituting file stamped pages to make it appear that a filing had been timely and he also used his firm's letterhead while suspended. We found that Givens had repeat criminal acts, lack of commitment to substance abuse recovery, and failed to follow and comply with this Court's order. Accordingly we found that a suspension of two years and a day was an appropriate discipline.
¶ 24 Likewise, the underlying facts giving rise to the discipline of two years and one day in Conrady are distinguishable from this disciplinary matter with Respondent, Hastings. Conrady's criminal behavior escalated after his longtime girlfriend decided to end their relationship. In response, he began drinking vodka and taking pain medication and making repeated attempts to contact his former girlfriend. She ignored his calls. The next evening, while intoxicated and emotionally driven, he loaded himself with a semi-automatic handgun and drove to her residence. She was not home, but he fired multiple rounds throughout her home damaging, a mirror, television, personal items of her boyfriend and a projectile was discovered in a bedroom normally occupied by her young daughter. Conrady then continued his shooting spree, discharging the gun multiple times into his former girlfriend and her boyfriend's vehicles.
¶ 25 Conrady pled guilty to six different felony counts. He received a deferred sentence to run over a period of five years. More than one year after this incident, even in light of his sobriety and obtaining psychotherapy, he delivered multiple e-mails to his former girlfriend which were offensive and demeaning. In considering the appropriate discipline, this Court noted that Conrady's intentional firing of multiple rounds from a high caliber firearm "was reckless and potentially deadly." Conrady 2012 OK 29, ¶ 18, 275 P.3d 133, 139. The former girlfriend and her boyfriend had to obtain protective orders and lived their lives with fear of additional aggression from Conrady. We found there was substantial harm inflicted and threat of harm against the victims. Disturbing factors specifically highlighted in Conrady, supra, include guilty plea to six different felony counts, the level of violence inflicted and the attorney's
¶ 26 The facts of State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Zannotti, 2014 OK 25, 330 P.3d 11, wherein we determined the attorney should only be suspended for a period of two years, are more consistent with the evidence in the record before us. Zanotti began a sexual dating relationship with his client, J.T., who was going through a divorce. Shortly after their dating relationship began, he withdrew as legal counsel. About a year later, J.T. decided to end the relationship. Zanotti became jealous and needy as he did not want the relationship to end. He drove to J.T.'s home and immediately became aggressive, by kissing her, then taking her phone away and smashing it. Zanotti became physically violent, throwing J.T. against a wall, hitting her causing two black eyes and a gash across her nose. He took off his clothes, ordered her to undress and lie down on the bed. Zanotti got on top of her, then tightened his hands around her neck and then asked if she loved him and would marry him.
¶ 27 J.T. was frightened but eventually got away from Zanotti, ran outside and had a neighbor call 911. A court later granted J.T. a protective order against Zanotti. He was charged and pled nolo contendere to two different misdemeanor charges: (1) domestic assault and battery, and (2) malicious injury to property. We found in this matter, that an appropriate discipline for Zanotti was a two year suspension.
¶ 28 There are a number of mitigating factors present in the case before us with respect to Respondent, Hastings. Respondent was the victim of domestic violence, with a protective order in place against his ex-wife at the time she was found inside of his living room. Respondent's substance abuse condition was precipitated by the years of abuse he endured from his marriage. The domestic abuse fueled the conditions that led to the events of December 30, 2014.
¶ 29 The goal in attorney disciplinary matters is not to punish an attorney for the cited conduct, but rather to protect the public and preserve the integrity of the bar. Givens, 2014 OK 103, ¶ 18, 343 P.3d at 218; Conrady, 2012 OK 29, ¶ 16, 275 P.3d at 139. The purpose is to evaluate the attorney's fitness to practice law and not punishment of the offending lawyer. We have identified 4 components to attorney discipline: 1) safeguard the public's interest; 2) preserve the public confidence in the judiciary; 3) promote the integrity of the judicial system; and 4) deter similar misconduct. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. McArthur, 2013 OK 73, ¶ 6, 318 P.3d 1095, 1098.
¶ 30 We may consider mitigating circumstances when determining appropriate discipline. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Corrales, 2012 OK 64, ¶ 17, 280 P.3d 968, 973. Prior to this incident, Respondent practiced law for many years without any ethical violations or discipline by this Court. He endured years of domestic abuse at the hands of his ex-wife. This abuse was significant enough to warrant the issuance of a protective order that was still in effect at the time she entered his home on December, 30, 2014. It is unknown how she gained entry inside of Respondent's home that day. Even more notable, is
¶ 31 Since the time of Respondent's arrest, he has been pro-active in seeking treatment. Three months before he entered into his deferred sentence agreement, he had become sober and was actively participating with AA and substance abuse recovery efforts. Respondent voluntarily ceased the practice of law prior to any disciplinary action taken against him. He has not engaged in the unauthorized practice of law during the time he has been suspended. All experts agree that Respondent's substance abuse condition is in full remission and that he is stable and fully capable of safely engaging in the practice of law. Respondent has acknowledged that substance abuse recovery is a life long commitment
¶ 32 Although this Court does not excuse Respondent's behavior, we recognize that there were extraordinary circumstances that created the conditions that made the events of December 30, 2014 possible. Respondent did not leave his home that day with the intent of being aggressive toward his ex-wife. Rather, his ex-wife, who had been court ordered to stay away from Respondent, wound up inside of Respondent's home at a time he was agitated and drunk. Respondent has not been aggressive towards his ex-wife or anybody else since this incident. Respondent has accepted full responsibility for his actions and has demonstrated consistent and long term commitment to his substance abuse recovery.
¶ 33 The OBA's expert psychologist testified after reviewing extensive medical records and an in person evaluation with Hastings, she is confident that Hastings is aware of the need for a lifelong commitment to treatment.
¶ 34 We ordered an interim suspension which began in April, 2015. Respondent had voluntarily ceased practicing law two months prior to this Court's action. He has honored this Court's order, and he has not practiced law throughout his interim suspension. During this time period, he had to obtain another protective order against his ex-wife. He has not exhibited any other violent behavior and has been faithful to his substance abuse recovery. He has not practiced law for over two years. The element of alcohol abuse was a key factor in the commission of the misdemeanor on December 30, 2014. Considering all of these factors and evidence before us, a two year suspension is the proper discipline in this case.
CONCLUSION
¶ 35 We do not adopt the recommendation of the OBA and the PRT to impose discipline of two years and one day. Weighing the mitigation evidence, we hold the Respondent, John Christopher Hastings is hereby suspended for two years from the date of his interim suspension, April 27, 2015. Costs are hereby assessed against Respondent in the total amount of $4,250.96 to be paid within 6 months of the date this opinion is issued. Respondent is further ordered to complete all past due continuing legal education requirements. Prior to reinstatement, Respondent shall submit an affidavit to the OBA verifying he has paid the assessed costs and completed his continuing legal education as required by this opinion.
GURICH, V.C.J., KAUGER, WATT, WINCHESTER, EDMONDSON, COLBERT, JJ. — CONCUR
COMBS, C.J., WYRICK, J. — DISSENT (by separate writing)
REIF, J. — RECUSED
COMBS, C.J., with whom WYRICK, J., joins, dissenting:
¶ 1 While I agree with the majority's determination that Respondent's criminal conduct and his condition demonstrate his unfitness to practice law, I disagree as to what constitutes appropriate discipline under the circumstances. The Oklahoma Bar Association and the Professional Responsibility Tribunal both recommended Respondent be suspended for two years and one day, and I would adhere to those recommendations.
¶ 2 The majority departs from these recommendations and suspends Respondent for two years. In doing so, the majority attempts to distinguish this attorney disciplinary proceeding from others involving criminal domestic violence that resulted in suspensions of two years and one day, such as State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Conrady,
¶ 3 Respondent pointed a firearm at his ex-wife and stated "you are going to die today. Where do you want it, the gut or the head?"
¶ 4 On multiple occasions, despite his commitment to treatment and sobriety, Respondent has refused to accept full responsibility for the acts he committed, going so far as to have originally denied committing them at all. In a response to this Court, Respondent flat out denied pointing a weapon at his ex-wife:
Respondent's Response as to Why a Final Order of Suspension Should Not Be Imposed on Respondent (Response), 12.
In the same document, Respondent claimed: "I subsequently surrendered to the police without incident 7 hours after they called me." Response, 15. He further initially denied threatening his ex-wife during a hearing before the Professional Responsibility Tribunal until confronted with evidence to the contrary. All witnesses to the event contradicted Respondent's denial concerning threatening his ex-wife. Similarly, Respondent hardly surrendered "without incident" to law enforcement.
¶ 5 Given the nature of Respondent's conduct, I would suspend him for two years and one day, thereby requiring him to petition for reinstatement pursuant to Rule 11.1 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings (RGDP), 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A. This would require Respondent to demonstrate that he meets the high standard required by Rule 11.4, RGDP
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