IN RE: BONNIE B. HUMPHREY (2023)

Readmission granted with conditions. See per curiam.

SJC

JLW

JDH

JTG

WJC

JBM

PDG

Supreme Court of Louisiana December 05, 2023

This proceeding arises out of an application for readmission to the practice of law filed by petitioner, Bonnie B. Humphrey, a disbarred attorney.

UNDERLYING FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Petitioner made false representations in a judicial proceeding, attempted to represent a client after being discharged, converted client property, engaged in a conflict of interest, and was held in contempt of court for filing pleadings containing offensive language and unsubstantiated allegations. For this knowing and intentional misconduct, which caused significant actual harm, we disbarred petitioner retroactive to March 2, 2005, the date of her interim suspension. In re: Humphrey, 09-0083 (La. 6/26/09), 15 So. 3d 960.

In June 2022, petitioner filed an application for readmission with the disciplinary board, alleging she has complied with the readmission criteria set forth in Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 24(E). The ODC took no position regarding the application for readmission. Accordingly, the matter was referred for a formal hearing before a hearing committee.

Following the hearing, the committee recommended that petitioner be readmitted to the practice of law, subject to two years of supervised probation with conditions in the event she returns to Louisiana to practice law. Neither petitioner nor the ODC objected to the committee's recommendation.

DISCUSSION

After considering the record in its entirety, we find petitioner has met her burden of proving that she is entitled to be readmitted to the practice of law. Nevertheless, further precautions are warranted to ensure that the public will be protected upon petitioner's return to Louisiana to practice law. See Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 24(J).

Accordingly, we will order that petitioner be readmitted to the practice of law. We will further order that, in event petitioner returns to Louisiana to practice law, she shall be subject to a two-year period of probation governed by the following conditions:

1. Petitioner shall practice law under the supervision of a competent Louisiana attorney; and

2. Petitioner shall obtain the annual mandatory continuing legal education hours despite otherwise being exempt due to her age.

DECREE

Upon review of the recommendation of the hearing committee, and considering the record, it is ordered that Bonnie B. Humphrey, Louisiana Bar Roll number 17125, be immediately readmitted to the practice of law in Louisiana. It is further ordered that, in the event petitioner returns to Louisiana to practice of law, she shall be subject to a two-year period of probation governed by the conditions set forth herein. The probationary period shall commence from the date petitioner and the ODC execute a formal probation plan. Should petitioner fail to comply with the conditions of probation, or should she commit any misconduct during the period of probation, her conditional right to practice may be terminated immediately, or she may be subjected to other discipline pursuant to the Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, as appropriate. All costs of these proceedings are assessed against petitioner.

PER CURIAM