99 N.Y.S. 87 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1906
T-he respondent, ah attorney and counselor at law, was counsel in a case in the City Oonrt of New York. That case came on for trial before one of the justices of that court,, and resulted in the defeat of' the respondent’s client. Subsequently the respondent wrote a letter to the justice complaining of his conduct, and containing reflections upon the integrity of the justice and, by inference, of other members of the court. The justices of the court served a notice upon the respondent to appear before them and explain- his conduct. He offered to them no explanation, but acquiesced in a reference of the matter to this court. In this court the respondent was heard personally and submitted an affidavit and brief. In
The admission of attorneys is regulated by the Code of Civil Procedure. Section 56 provides for the examination and admission of attorneys; section 59 provides that each person admitted must upon his admission take the constitutional oath of office in open court and subscribe the same in a roll or book to be kept in the office of the clerk of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for that purpose; and section 67 provides that “ An attorney and counselor, who is guilty of any deceit, malpractice, crime or misdemeanor, or who is guilty of any fraud or deceit in proceedings by which he was admitted to practice as an attorney and counselor of - the courts of record of this State, may be suspended from practice, or removed from office, by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.” The following sections also apply to various acts of an attorney which are made misdemeanors and for which an attorney may be disbarred. (See Code Civ. Proc. §70 et seq.; Penal Code, §§ 136, 139, 148, 149, 670, 671.)
An attorney and counselor at law, when admitted to practice, becomes an officer of the court, and as such is a public officer, bound to exercise the utmost good faith to his clients and to the court. In view of the conclusion at which we have arrived in the disposition of this proceeding it is not necessary to determine just what conduct towards the court we consider deceit or malpractice within the provisions of section 67 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or whether the respondent has been guilty of such conduct "as would justify the court in suspending him from'practice or removing him from office. The Constitution and laws of tlie State provide for the removal of judges whose conduct has disqualified them from holding the office to which they have been elected or appointed, and it-is the duty of every attorney or other citizen who has knowledge of any act which would justify such a removal to present the facts to those who
McLaughlin, Clarke and Houghton, JJ., concurred.
If this were - merely a private letter to a judge out of court censuring his júdicial conduct, or giving expression to the opinion of ’ the author concerning the judge individually or as an official, an ■ interesting question relating to our jurisdiction would be presented upon Which it is not necessary that an opinión should liow be expressed. The letter, however, goes much further, and reflects upon other judges and the courts presided" over by them. The bonduct of the attorney is very reprehensible; and if permitted to pass , with a -mere reprimand, others will be encouraged to ventilate their private, and- perhaps malicious views concerning the courts and judges, and in the end the reputation of the courts and judges for probity and impartiality may be destroyed and the public may lose
I am, therefore, of opinion that this attorney should be required publicly to apologize in open court to the judges criticized, and report publicly to this court that he has done so; and that in default of so doing, he should be suspended from the practice Of the legal profession for the period of six months. ■
Attorney reprimanded and proceeding dismissed. Settle order on notice.