Opinion
PM-35-22
02-24-2022
In the Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468-a. Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Petitioner; Hetty Lawrence Richardson, Respondent. Attorney Registration No. 2293629.
Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany, for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department. Hetty Lawrence Richardson, Orono, Maine, respondent pro se.
Calendar Date: January 24, 2022
Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany, for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.
Hetty Lawrence Richardson, Orono, Maine, respondent pro se.
Before: Garry, P.J., Clark, Reynolds Fitzgerald, Ceresia and Fisher, JJ.
Motion by respondent for an order reinstating her to the practice of law following her suspension by October 2021 order of this Court (Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468-a , 198 A.D.3d 1068, 1084 [2021]; see Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.16; Rules of App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.16).
Upon reading respondent's notice of motion and affidavit with exhibits sworn to December 13, 2021, and the January 18, 2022 responsive correspondence from the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, and having determined, by clear and convincing evidence, that (1) respondent has complied with the order of suspension and the Rules of this Court, (2) respondent has the requisite character and fitness to practice law, and (3) it would be in the public interest to reinstate respondent to the practice of law (see Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468-a [Callier], 192 A.D.3d 1375, 1376-1377 [2021]), it is
ORDERED that respondent's motion for reinstatement is granted; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent is reinstated as an attorney and counselor-at-law, effectively immediately.
Garry, P.J., Clark, Reynolds Fitzgerald, Ceresia and Fisher, JJ., concur.