Opinion
Opinion No. 24996
Submitted August 10, 1999
Filed August 23, 1999
Juliette Brown Mims, of Greenville, pro se.
Henry B. Richardson, Jr., and Senior Assistant Attorney General James G. Bogle, Jr., of Columbia, for the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel.
DEFINITE SUSPENSION
In this attorney disciplinary matter, respondent and Disciplinary Counsel have entered into an agreement under Rule 21, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. In the agreement, respondent admits misconduct and consents to be suspended from the practice of law for ninety days. We accept the agreement.
Respondent pled guilty to one count of failing to make and file a South Carolina Income Tax Return for tax year 1992 in violation of S.C. Code Ann. § 12-54-40(b)(6)(c) (Supp. 1998). The failure to file a tax return is a serious crime as set forth in Rule 2(z), RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. By her conduct, respondent has violated Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 407, SCACR, and Rule 7(a)(4), RLDE, by committing a serious crime that reflects adversely upon her honesty, trustworthiness and fitness as a lawyer and has violated Rule 7(a)(5) and (6), RLDE, by engaging in conduct tending to bring the courts or legal profession into disrepute and violating the oath of office she took upon admission to the practice of law in this State.
In our opinion, respondent's misconduct warrants a definite suspension from the practice of law for ninety days. Accordingly, respondent is suspended for ninety days, retroactive to June 9, 1999, the date of her interim suspension. Within fifteen days of the date of this opinion, respondent shall file an affidavit with the Clerk of Court showing that she has complied with Rule 30, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR.
DEFINITE SUSPENSION.