Opinion
No. 20190192
08-01-2019
In the MATTER OF Reciprocal DISCIPLINE OF William G. SCHER, a Person Previously Admitted to the Bar of the State of North Dakota
DISBARMENT ORDERED
Per Curiam.
[¶1] On June 18, 2019, the North Dakota Disciplinary Board notified the Supreme Court under N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 4.4(D) that it was recommending the reciprocal discipline of William G. Scher. The record reflects that the District of Columbia Court of Appeals disbarred Scher for engaging in the unauthorized use of entrusted funds in the amount of $29,118.67 for his own purposes and engaging in a subsequent dishonest explanation that the misuse of the funds was inadvertent.
[¶2] Scher was admitted to practice law in North Dakota on January 28, 1993, but has never been licensed. He resigned his license in New York in lieu of discipline. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals based his disbarment on New York’s findings. Scher was also disbarred in New Jersey.
[¶3] On April 24, 2019, the Disciplinary Board served notice under N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 4.4(B) that a certified copy of an order was entered by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals was received. No current address is known for Scher. In the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and recommendation for Discipline, the Chair of the North Dakota Disciplinary Board stated mail to Scher’s most recent addresses was returned as undeliverable. Mail to Scher from this Court was also returned as undeliverable. Therefore, on April 24, 2019, service of the notice was made by the North Dakota Disciplinary Board on the Clerk of the North Dakota Supreme Court under Admission to Practice R. 1. The notice informed Scher he had 30 days to file any claim that imposition of the identical discipline in North Dakota would be unwarranted and the reasons for the claim. No response was received from Scher. On June 18, 2019, the Disciplinary Board filed its recommendation that Scher be disbarred.
[¶4] The Court considered the matter, and
[¶5] ORDERED, that William G. Scher is DISBARRED from the practice of law in North Dakota, effective upon entry of judgment in this matter.
[¶6] IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Scher must comply with N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 6.3 regarding notice.
[¶7] IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that reinstatement is governed by N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 4.5.
[¶8] Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.
Daniel J. Crothers
Jerod E. Tufte
Lisa Fair McEvers
Jon J. Jensen