Case Information

STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. BOUNDS

Case Number: SCBD-6597

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Decided: 12/11/2017

2017 OK 98

FOR PUBLICATION IN OBJ ONLY. NOT RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION.

State of Oklahoma ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association, Complainant,
v.
John Knox Bounds, Respondent.

ORDER OF IMMEDIATE INTERIM SUSPENSION

¶1 The Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA), in compliance with Rules 7.1 and 7.2 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings (RGDP), has forwarded to this Court certified copies of the Criminal Information, Amended Information, Deferment, and Judgment and Sentence, in the matter of State of Oklahoma v. John K. Bounds, CF-2016-159, in Choctaw County. On August 22, 2017, a jury found John Knox Bounds guilty of the following crimes, both of which occurred on August 6, 2016:

1.) Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, a felony, in violation of 63 O.S. 2011 § 2-402; and

2.) Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, in violation 63 O.S. 2011 § 2-405.

¶2 On November 21, 2017, the Court entered a deferment of 2 years, until November 21, 2019, on the felony count for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, during which time Bounds is on probation. The Court also sentenced Bounds to imprisonment for 30 days on the misdemeanor count.

¶3 Rule 7.3 of the RGDP provides: "Upon receipt of the certified copies of Judgment and Sentence on a plea of guilty, order deferring judgment and sentence, indictment or information and the judgment and sentence, the Supreme Court shall by order immediately suspend the lawyer from the practice of law until further order of the Court." Having received certified copies of these papers and orders, this Court orders that John Knox Bounds is immediately suspended from the practice of law. John Knox Bounds is directed to show cause, if any, no later than December 22, 2017, why this order of interim suspension should be set aside. See RGDP Rule 7.3. The OBA has until January 4, 2018, to respond.

¶4 Rule 7.2 of the RGDP provides that a certified copy of a plea of guilty, an order deferring judgment and sentence, or information and judgment and sentence of conviction "shall constitute the charge and be conclusive evidence of the commission of the crime upon which the judgment and sentence is based and shall suffice as the basis for discipline in accordance with these rules." Pursuant to Rule 7.4 of the RGDP, John Knox Bounds has until January 19, 2018, to show cause in writing why a final order of discipline should not be imposed, to request a hearing, or to file a brief and any evidence tending to mitigate the severity of discipline. The OBA has until February 5, 2018, to respond.

¶5 DONE BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT on November 11, 2017.

/S/CHIEF JUSTICE

Combs, C.J., Gurich, V.C.J., Watt, Winchester, Edmondson, Colbert and Wyrick, JJ., concur;

Reif, J., not participating