Opinion
01-19-2017
In the Matter of James P. WINSTON, an Attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 4594685).
James P. Winston, Manchester, New Hampshire, pro se. Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany, for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.
James P. Winston, Manchester, New Hampshire, pro se.
Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany, for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.
Before: PETERS, P.J., McCARTHY, ROSE, MULVEY and AARONS, JJ.
PER CURIAM.James P. Winston was admitted to practice by this Court in 2008 and lists a business address in Manchester, New Hampshire with the Office of Court Administration. By affidavit sworn to May 9, 2016, Winston seeks leave to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons (see Uniform Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.22 [a] ). The Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department (hereinafter AGC) opposes the application by correspondence from its Chief Attorney.
Winston's application must be denied. Judiciary Law § 468–a and Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts (22 NYCRR) § 118.1 each require that attorneys admitted to practice in New York file a biennial registration statement, and attendant fee, with the Office of Court Administration. Judiciary Law § 468–a(5) directly states that the failure to duly register "shall constitute conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and shall be referred to the appropriate appellate division ... for disciplinary action" (see Benjamin v. Koeppel, 85 N.Y.2d 549, 556, 626 N.Y.S.2d 982, 650 N.E.2d 829 [1995] ; see also Rules of Chief Admin of Cts. [22 NYCRR] § 118.1 [h] ). Further, the Rules of Professional Conduct explicitly define conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice as attorney misconduct (see Rules of Professional Conduct [22 NYCRR 1200.0 ] rule 8.4[d] ), and this Court has repeatedly and consistently held that failure to comply with the registration requirements is professional misconduct warranting discipline (see Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468–a, 113 A.D.3d 1020, 1021, 979 N.Y.S.2d 548 [2014]; Matter of Arms, 251 A.D.2d 743, 743–744, 674 N.Y.S.2d 156 [1998] ; Matter of Ryan, 238 A.D.2d 713, 713–714, 656 N.Y.S.2d 444 [1997] ; Matter of Farley, 205 A.D.2d 874, 874–875, 613 N.Y.S.2d 458 [1994] ).
As noted by AGC, Winston has, to date, not fulfilled his attorney registration requirements for two consecutive biennial periods beginning in 2014. Accordingly, we find that he is ineligible for nondisciplinary resignation and deny his application. We further hold that any future application by Winston for leave to resign for nondisciplinary reasons must be supported by proof of his full satisfaction of the requirements of Judiciary Law § 468–a and Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts (22 NYCRR) § 118.1.
ORDERED that James P. Winston's application to resign is denied.
PETERS, P.J., McCARTHY, ROSE, MULVEY and AARONS, JJ., concur.