IN RE: Kevin S. JOHNSON (2026)

OPINION & ORDER

On April 4, 2025, the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District served the respondent with a notice of petition and a verified petition, both dated March 18, 2025, and duly filed those papers with this Court together with an affidavit of service.  The petition contains six charges of professional misconduct alleging that the respondent failed to cooperate with five disciplinary investigations by the Grievance Committee, failed to appear or produce documents pursuant to two judicial subpoenas and, thus, engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, neglected four legal matters entrusted to him, and engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness as a lawyer, in violation of rules 8.4(d) and (h) and 1.3(b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct (22 NYCRR 1200.0), respectively.

The notice of petition directed the respondent to serve and file his answer to the petition within 20 days after service upon him of the petition.  To date, the respondent has neither served nor filed an answer to the petition, as directed, nor requested additional time in which to do so.

The Grievance Committee now moves to deem the charges against the respondent established based upon his default and to impose such discipline upon him as this Court deems appropriate.  Although the motion papers were duly served upon the respondent on May 5, 2025, he has neither opposed the instant motion nor interposed any response thereto.

Accordingly, the Grievance Committee's motion to deem the charges against the respondent established based upon his default is granted, the charges in the petition dated March 18, 2025, are deemed established, and, effective immediately, the respondent is disbarred and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law.

ORDERED that the motion of the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District to deem the charges in the petition dated March 18, 2025, established is granted;  and it is further,

ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90, effective immediately, the respondent, Kevin S. Johnson, admitted as Kevin Scott Johnson, is disbarred, and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law;  and it is further,

ORDERED that the respondent, Kevin S. Johnson, admitted as Kevin Scott Johnson, shall comply with the rules governing the conduct of disbarred or suspended attorneys (see 22 NYCRR 1240.15);  and it is further,

ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90, the respondent, Kevin S. Johnson, admitted as Kevin Scott Johnson, shall desist and refrain from (1) practicing law in any form, either as principal or as agent, clerk, or employee of another, (2) appearing as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, Judge, Justice, board, commission, or other public authority, (3) giving to another an opinion as to the law or its application or any advice in relation thereto, and (4) holding himself out in any way as an attorney and counselor-at-law;  and it is further,

ORDERED that if the respondent, Kevin S. Johnson, admitted as Kevin Scott Johnson, has been issued a secure pass by the Office of Court Administration, it shall be returned forthwith to the issuing agency, and the respondent shall certify to the same in his affidavit of compliance pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.15(f).

PER CURIAM.

LASALLE, P.J., DILLON, DUFFY, BARROS, and GOLIA, JJ., concur.