Opinion
No. 04PDJ075.
September 24, 2004.
Attorney Regulation.
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties' Conditional Admission of Misconduct and publicly censured Respondent Edward J. LaBarre, attorney registration number 08116. While handling several criminal cases pro bono Respondent became associated with a prisoner in Sterling Correctional Facility. Sterling officials suspected the prisoner was assisting respondent on legal matters connected with other inmates. Prison officials determined that Respondent violated prison rules when he sent this prisoner materials about Respondent's current cases marked as "legal mail". Respondent also donated funds to the prisoner's account, which prison authorities construed as violating the prohibition against prisoners engaging in business without approval of the Department of Corrections. Respondent's conduct violated Colo. RPC 1.6 (confidentiality), 5.3 (responsibilities regarding non-lawyer assistants), and 8.4 (h) (conduct adversely affecting lawyer's fitness to practice law). Respondent was ordered to pay costs in this proceeding.