IN RE: Samuel Charles WARD (2025)

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) commenced an investigation into allegations that respondent practiced law while ineligible to do so and illegally purchased controlled substances. Prior to the filing of formal charges, respondent and the ODC submitted a joint petition for consent discipline. Having reviewed the petition,

IT IS ORDERED that the Petition for Consent Discipline be accepted and that Samuel Charles Ward, Jr., Louisiana Bar Roll number 29508, be and he hereby is suspended from the practice of law for a period of eighteen months. It is further ordered that this suspension shall be deferred in its entirety, subject to a period of probation to coincide with the term of respondent's monitoring agreement with the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program and governed by the conditions set forth in the petition for consent discipline. Any failure of respondent to comply with his recovery agreement or the conditions of probation, or any misconduct during the probationary period, may be grounds for making the deferred suspension executory, or imposing additional discipline, as appropriate.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all costs and expenses in the matter are assessed against respondent in accordance with Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 10.1, with legal interest to commence thirty days from the date of finality of this court's judgment until paid.

I dissent and would require the respondent to sign a five-year monitoring agreement with the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program before the joint petition is accepted.

I respectfully dissent. I find the discipline imposed is too lenient.

PER CURIAM

Crain, J., dissents and assigns reasons. McCallum, J., dissents and assigns reasons. Cole, J., dissents for the reasons assigned by Crain, J.