IN RE: Joshua Paul MELDER (2018)

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

In November 2016, respondent was arrested and booked with domestic abuse battery and resisting an officer. Prior to the filing of formal charges, respondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel submitted a joint petition for consent discipline in which respondent admitted that his conduct violated Rules 8.4(a) and 8.4(b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Having reviewed the petition,

IT IS ORDERED that the Petition for Consent Discipline be accepted and that Joshua Paul Melder, Louisiana Bar Roll number 33983, be suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year and one day. It is further ordered that all but six months of the suspension shall be deferred, subject to respondent's successful completion of a five-year period of probation to coincide with his Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program recovery agreement. The probationary period shall commence from the date respondent and the ODC execute a formal probation plan. Any failure of respondent to comply with the conditions of probation, or any misconduct during the probationary period, may be grounds for making the deferred portion of the 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.

PER CURIAM

JOHNSON, C.J., would reject consent discipline.