IN RE: Patrick Bryant HAWLEY. (2025)

Order of the Court.

This matter is before the Court on the Report and Recommendation of the State Disciplinary Review Board (“Review Board”) addressing a Notice of Reciprocal Discipline issued to Patrick Bryant Hawley (State Bar No. 405304) pursuant to Rule 9.4 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. See Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The Notice of Reciprocal Discipline arose out of the Supreme Court of Tennessee's temporary suspension of Hawley's law license on November 26, 2024, based on his arrest by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges involving sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. See Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 12.3 (a) (Supreme Court of Tennessee may “temporarily suspend[ ]” attorney upon determining he “poses a threat of substantial harm to the public”). The Tennessee order further directed that Hawley may petition for dissolution or modification of the temporary suspension as provided by the Tennessee Supreme Court Rules. See Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 12.3 (d) (an “attorney may for good cause request dissolution or amendment [to an order of temporary suspension]” and the Supreme Court of Tennessee “may modify its order if appropriate or continue such provision of the order as may be appropriate until final disposition of all pending disciplinary charges against said attorney”).

Hawley, a resident of Tennessee who has been a member of the Tennessee State Bar since 2009 and the State Bar of Georgia since 2010, acknowledged service of the Notice of Reciprocal Discipline but did not file a response. The Review Board then recommended that Hawley be temporarily suspended from the practice of law in Georgia. See Rule 9.4 (b) (3) (the Review Board shall recommend substantially similar discipline unless the parties object or it clearly appears from the face of the record that certain factors exist which would give the Review Board discretion to make such other recommendation as it deems appropriate).

Having reviewed the record, and recognizing that Rule 9.4 (b) contemplates the imposition of substantially similar discipline as imposed in another jurisdiction, we conclude that a suspension until further order of this Court is appropriate in this reciprocal discipline matter. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that Patrick Bryant Hawley is suspended from the practice of law in Georgia until further order of this Court. If the Supreme Court of Tennessee modifies or dissolves its order, he may petition for a modification of this order or for reinstatement. Hawley is also reminded of his obligation under Rule 9.4 (b) to “promptly inform the Office of the General Counsel of the State Bar of Georgia” of any further disciplinary action taken by the Tennessee Supreme Court or any other court.

Suspension.

Peterson, C. J., Warren, P. J., and Bethel, Ellington, McMillian, LaGrua, Colvin, and Pinson, JJ., concur.