Opinion
6 JD 2015
03-29-2019
IN RE: MICHAEL LOWRY FORMER JUDGE PHILADELPHIA TRAFFIC COURT PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire Attorney for Respondent, Michael Lowry 103 S. High Street P.O. Box 3231 West Chester, PA 19381 (610) 696-4243 Attorney I.D. No. 18491
MOTION OF SAMUEL C. STRETTON , ESQUIRE TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL FOR MICHAEL LOWRY
Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire, the counsel for Michael Lowry, respectfully requests permission to withdraw as counsel for the following reasons:
1. Mr. Stretton has represented Mr. Lowry for five or six years now. For the last four years or so, the matter has been deferred because of the pending criminal case, and also because Mr. Lowry was incarcerated.
2. Mr. Lowry and his counsel have Petitioned the United States Supreme Court for Certiorari.
3. Mr. Stretton had asked to defer matters pending the U.S. Supreme Court action, but the Court of Judicial Discipline ordered documents and Briefs to be filed by April 2, 2019.
4. Mr. Stretton consulted with Mr. Lowry and asked for a retainer.
5. Mr. Lowry wrote back to Mr. Stretton saying that he does not have the funds and would be representing himself.
6. Mr. Stretton called Mr. Lowry and has been unsuccessful in reaching Mr. Lowry.
7. Mr. Stretton is filing a Petition to Withdraw since that is what Mr. Lowry wants.
8. If the Court wants Mr. Stretton to stay on as Mr. Lowry's counsel, of course he will, because it is late in the game.
9. Perhaps it would be better just to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court acts on the Petition for Certiorari.
WHEREFORE, Mr. Stretton respectfully requests that he be allowed to withdraw as counsel since Mr. Lowry is not in a position to pay legal fees and apparently wants to go his own way in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/_________
Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire
Attorney for Respondent,
Michael Lowry
103 S. High Street
P.O. Box 3231
West Chester, PA 19381
(610) 696-4243
Attorney I.D. No. 18491 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I, Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire, certify that this filing complies with the provisions of the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania: Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts that require filing confidential information and documents differently than non-confidential information and documents.
Respectfully submitted, 3/28/19
Date
/s/_________
Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire
Attorney for Respondent,
Michael Lowry
103 S. High Street
P.O. Box 3231
West Chester, PA 19381
(610) 696-4243
Attorney I.D. No. 18491 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify I am this date serving a copy of the Motion of Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire to Withdraw as Counsel for the Respondent in the captioned matter upon the following persons in the manner indicated below.
Service by First Class Mail addressed as follows:
1. Francis J. Puskas, II, Esquire
Deputy Chief Counsel
Judicial Conduct Board
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
601 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 3500
P.O. Box 62525
Harrisburg, PA 17106
2. Michael Lowry
6244 Erdrick Street
Philadelphia, PA 19135
Respectfully submitted, 3/19/19
Date
/s/_________
Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire
Attorney for Respondent,
Michael Lowry
103 S. High Street
P.O. Box 3231
West Chester, PA 19381
(610) 696-4243
Attorney I.D. No. 18491