STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. ROBINSON, 497 P.3d 282

Eugene Robinson was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar on April 22, 1983 and was OBA No. 10119.
On March 12, 2020 Robinson pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court (N.D. Okla.) to nine felony counts under 26 U.S.C. § 7202 for failure to account for and pay withholding/FICA; sentenced Aug. 28, 2020 to five years probation (concurrent), 8 months home detention, and $159,121.05 restitution.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court entered an interim order immediately suspending Robinson from practice on December 7, 2020.
During ongoing disciplinary proceedings Robinson executed an affidavit of resignation (Jan. 13, 2021) complying with RGDP Rule 8.1; the OBA filed an application to approve that resignation on Jan. 21, 2021.
Robinson admitted his convictions violated Rules 8.4(a) and 8.4(c) of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct and RGDP Rule 1.3, acknowledged the consequences of resignation pending discipline, agreed to cooperate in identifying client matters and to surrender his bar card, and acknowledged restitution obligations.
The Court approved the resignation effective Jan. 21, 2021, ordered his name stricken from the Roll of Attorneys, imposed a five-year bar on applying for reinstatement, and awarded OBA costs of $68.90.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether resignation pending disciplinary proceedings should be approved	OBA: Resignation complies with RGDP Rule 8.1 and approval under Rule 8.2 is appropriate	Robinson: Voluntary resignation; affidavit acknowledges violations and consequences	Approved; resignation effective Jan. 21, 2021
Whether resignation effects removal from roll and disbarment-equivalent consequences	OBA: Resignation pending discipline should result in name being stricken and a reinstatement delay	Robinson: Agreed resignation is tantamount to disbarment and accepted limitations	Name stricken; resignation treated as tantamount to disbarment; barred from applying for reinstatement for five years
Whether respondent must fulfill notification/cooperation duties and address client matters/restitution	OBA: Robinson must comply with RGDP 9.1, identify/transfer client files, surrender bar card, and address fees	Robinson: Agreed to comply and assist in identifying client cases and refunds	Court ordered compliance with RGDP 9.1, surrender of card, and cooperation on client matters and restitution
Whether respondent must reimburse OBA costs and effect on reinstatement eligibility	OBA: Seek reimbursement of investigative/prosecution costs	Robinson: Acknowledged responsibility for costs	Ordered to pay $68.90 within 30 days; payment required before consideration of any Rule 11 reinstatement petition

State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association v. Robinson, 2020 OK 100 (Okla. 2020) (Court previously entered an interim order of immediate suspension prior to approval of resignation)