Opinion
NO. 11-B-2533
01-18-2013
In re: ROLANDA GAYLE HARRELL JACKSON
ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
Chief Justice Kimball not participating in the opinion.
In 2006, respondent, Rolanda Gayle Harrell Jackson, made an improper payment from her client trust account as a result of her reliance upon incorrect information provided by her nonlawyer staff. Thereafter, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel ("ODC") filed formal charges against respondent arising from this misconduct. Prior to a hearing in the matter, the parties filed a joint petition for consent discipline in this court, proposing that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one year and one day, fully deferred, subject to a two-year period of probation with conditions. We accepted the petition for consent discipline on January 13, 2012. In re: Jackson, 11-2533 (La. 1/13/12), 82 So. 3d 261.
The ODC now files a "Motion to Defer Probation," representing that on July 1, 2012, respondent, at her request, became an inactive member of the Louisiana State Bar Association. In light of respondent's change in bar membership status, the ODC requests that the two-year period of probation be deferred and held in abeyance until respondent returns to active membership status. We agree that the requested deferral is appropriate.
DECREE
Considering the Motion to Defer Probation filed by the ODC, it is ordered that the two-year period of probation imposed against respondent in In re: Jackson, 11-2533 (La. 1/13/12), 82 So. 3d 261, be deferred and held in abeyance until respondent returns to active membership status with the Louisiana State Bar Association. It is further ordered that respondent shall immediately notify the ODC upon her request to return to active status.