FOR THE RESPONDENT FOR THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT
DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION
Gregory Nelson Holmes, pro se Donald R. Lundberg, Executive
Secretary
Charles M. Kidd, Staff Attorney
115
West Washington Street, Suite 1060
Indianapolis, IN 46204
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF INDIANA
______________________________________________________________
IN THE MATTER OF )
) Case No. 10S00-9309-DI-1007
GREGORY NELSON HOLMES )
__________________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
__________________________________________________________________
January 28, 2000
Per Curiam
The respondent, Gregory Nelson Holmes, pleaded guilty to two counts of
official misconduct. Today we approve a Conditional Agreement between the
respondent and the Disciplinary Commission calling for suspension of his
law license for that misconduct.
Having been admitted to the bar of this state in 1987, the respondent
is subject to our disciplinary jurisdiction. During relevant times, he was
also admitted to the bar of the state of Kentucky.
Before us is the Commission and the respondent’s Statement of
Circumstances and Conditional Agreement for Discipline, submitted pursuant
to Ind.Admission and Discipline Rule 23(11). In it, the respondent and the
Commission stipulate to the following facts. The respondent was charged
following a grand jury indictment in the circuit court of Jefferson County,
Kentucky, with 15 Class D felony charges: one count of bigamy, one count
of bribery of a public servant; and thirteen counts of theft by deception
over $100. On June 3, 1993, he was convicted after a jury trial of bigamy,
bribery of a public servant, and one count of theft by deception.
Subsequently, the Court of Appeals for the Commonwealth of Kentucky
reversed all of the respondent’s convictions and remanded for a new trial.
On March 22, 1999, the respondent entered a guilty plea to two counts of
official misconduct in the second degree, both Class B misdemeanors. In
the respondent’s plea agreement, he admitted that
while in his official duties of the [Kentucky] Attorney
General’s
Office, [the respondent] had a relationship with an individual
he stood in judgment of that appeared to influence his
performance of that duty imposed upon him by law. Further,
the [respondent] violated the rules and regulations of the
Attorney General’s Office in not maintaining proper time
records of his employment.
The Kentucky court sentenced the respondent to 100 hours of community
service and 90
days probation, to be discharged upon successful completion of the
community service.
On the basis of his initial criminal conviction on June 3, 1993, this
Court suspended the respondent pendente lite on October 22, 1993, upon
notice of conviction. Matter of Holmes, 621 N.E.2d 634 (Ind. 1993).[1]
Following the Kentucky appellate court’s overturning of that conviction,
this Court on December 15, 1995, converted the suspension based upon the
conviction to a suspension pending prosecution of this disciplinary
proceeding.[2]
We find that the respondent violated Ind. Professional Conduct Rule
8.4(b) by committing criminal acts reflecting adversely on his honesty,
trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects. We also find
that the respondent violated Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(c) by participating in
conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.[3]
Since we have found professional misconduct, we must now determine
whether the proposed sanction is appropriate. In making that assessment,
we consider the nature of the misconduct, the lawyer’s state of mind which
underlies the misconduct, actual or potential injury flowing from the
misconduct, the duty of this Court to preserve the integrity of the
profession, the risk to the public in allowing the respondent to continue
in practice, and any mitigating or aggravating factors. Matter of Lehman,
690 N.E.2d 696 (Ind. 1997). The respondent and the Commission agree upon a
sanction consisting of a suspension from the practice of law for a period
of not less than six months, with credit for the time he has been suspended
pendente lite.
The respondent betrayed the public’s trust in two ways. First, he
failed objectively to discharge the duty imposed upon him by law while
acting as a lawyer for Kentucky’s attorney general. That failure arose
directly from his personal relationship with an individual over whom he
stood in judgment. When it became clear that the respondent’s objectivity
was threatened, as an attorney he was obligated to remove himself from the
matter. The respondent did not withdraw, and instead acted in the matter
despite the fact that the relationship “appeared to influence his
performance . . .” Second, he failed to keep proper time records while
acting for the public and while being paid with public funds. Each
instance of his official misconduct includes attendant deception: in the
case of his conflict of interest by clandestinely permitting the resolution
of a public legal matter to be influenced by his personal relationship, and
in the second instance by knowingly “not maintaining” proper time records.
This deception is made more egregious by the context in which it occurred
– that is, in his role as a public servant.
Given the respondent’s breach of the public’s trust and his apparent
propensity for deception, we would reject a six-month suspension as too
lenient absent the unique circumstances of this case. The respondent has
been suspended pendente lite by this Court’s order from the practice of law
in Indiana for the past six years. Under the terms of the agreement now
before us, the respondent will not be able to practice law in Indiana until
he formally petitions for reinstatement to the Indiana bar pursuant to
Admis.Disc.R. 23(4) and proves, among other things, that he can be safely
recommended to the bar and public. Given those factors and our policy
favoring agreements between the Commission and attorneys facing
disciplinary charges, we find that the sanction proposed by the parties
adequately addresses the respondent’s misconduct and protects the public.
We note, however, that any reinstatement proceeding will explore in detail
the seriousness of the specific acts leading to the respondent’s
convictions and whether, in light of that conduct, reinstatement is
appropriate.
Accordingly, we order that the respondent be suspended from the
practice of law for a period of not less than six months, effective
immediately, with credit given for the time during which the respondent has
been suspended pendente lite. To be reinstated to the practice of law in
this state, the respondent must satisfy the requirements and conditions of
Admis.Disc.R. 23(4).
The Clerk of this Court is directed to provide notice of this order
in accordance with Admis.Disc.R. 23(3)(d) and to provide the Clerk of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the Clerk of each
of the United States District Courts in this state, and the Clerk of each
of the United States Bankruptcy Courts in this state with the last known
address of the respondent as reflected in the records of the Clerk.
Costs of this proceeding are assessed against the respondent.
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[1] Indiana Admission and Discipline Rule 23(11.1)(a).
[2] Indiana Admission and Discipline Rule 23(11.1)(b).
[3] Prof. Cond.R. 8.4 provides in relevant part:
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: . . .
(b) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on
the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a
lawyer in other respects;
(c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit
or misrepresentation.