Opinion
No. SCBD-5117
May 30, 2006
ORDER OF REINSTATEMENT
¶ 1 Petitioner, Thomas Bentley Baines, was stricken from the roll of attorneys after voluntarily resigning from the Oklahoma Bar Association on January 1, 1996. On October 20, 2005, Baines petitioned this Court for reinstatement to membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association. A hearing was held before a panel of the Professional Responsibility Tribunal on January 18, 2006, and the panel recommended that Petitioner be reinstated. Upon consideration of the matter, THIS COURT FINDS:
1) Petitioner has met all the procedural requirements necessary for reinstatement in the Oklahoma Bar Association, as set forth in Rule 11, Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings, Okla. Stat. tit. 5, ch. 1, App. 1-A (2001).
2) Petitioner has established by clear and convincing evidence that he has not engaged in the practice in the State of Oklahoma since his voluntary resignation.
3) Petitioner has established by clear and convincing evidence that he possesses the competence and learning in the law required for reinstatement to the Oklahoma Bar Association including but not limited to completion of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education for the years 2004 and 2005.
4) Petitioner has established by clear and convincing evidence that he possesses the good moral character which would entitle him to be reinstated to the Oklahoma Bar Association.
¶ 2 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the petition of Thomas Bentley Baines for reinstatement to membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association be granted. Petitioner is directed to pay costs of the proceeding in the amount of $406.03 within thirty days of the date of this order.
¶ 3 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner pay his 2006 Bar Association dues within thirty days of the date of this order. Reinstatement is conditioned upon Petitioner's payment of both the costs of this action and his 2006 dues.
DONE BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT IN CONFERENCE this 30th day of May, 2006.
ALL JUSTICES CONCUR.