Opinion

Disciplinary Counsel v. Cotton

  • 115 Ohio St. 3d 113
Court
Ohio Supreme Court
Filed
Sep 5, 2007
Status
Published
Author
Cupp
On the bench
Connor, Cupp, Donnell, Lanzinger, Moyer, Only, Pfeifer, Stratton
Cited by
2 cases

The opinion

Cupp, J.,

dissenting.

Jonathan E. Coughlan, Disciplinary Counsel, and Robert R. Berger, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, for relator.

Jones Day, Shawn J. Organ, and Kerstin Elisabet Sjoberg-Witt, for respondent.

{¶ 53} I respectfully dissent. I would adopt the findings and conclusions of the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law. The board found that Cotton engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by preparing legal papers on behalf of other inmates. The board also found that Cotton signed or placed his name on some pleadings as if he were acting as legal counsel for the other inmates.

{¶ 54} I would adopt the board’s recommendation to enjoin Cotton from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in the future. Additionally, I would encourage the officials of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to enforce their rules prohibiting inmates from acting or holding themselves out as attorneys on behalf of other inmates to avoid the unauthorized practice of law within the prison system.

Moyer, C.J., concurs in the foregoing opinion.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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