These matters are before the Court on the consolidated Report and Recommendation of the Review Panel resolving four separate Formal Complaints against Respondent Edward T. Murray State Bar No. 531725 filed by the State Bar over a period of two years. Murray acknowledged service of the complaints, and the special master, Paul T. Carroll III, held evidentiary hearings in the first two cases and held a hearing on mitigation and aggravation. Before those proceedings were completed, the State Bar filed the other two cases. The matters were consolidated and hearings were held in the other two cases. The parties stipulated that the earlier mitigation and aggravation evidence would be applicable to all four cases. The special master filed reports in each of the four cases and filed a consolidated Recommendation of Discipline for all of the cases recommending an 18-month suspension with the condition that Murray make restitution of the retainer paid in S14Y0139. The State Bar filed an exception to the level of discipline, requesting that Murray be disbarred. Murray responded, seeking a Review Panel review. The Review Panel noted that there are no challenges to the special master’s findings and conclusions, and only the level of discipline is at issue. The Review Panel issued its report and adopted the special master’s recommendation of an 18-month suspension with the same condition. The State Bar filed an exception to the Review Panel report and again seeks disbarment. Murray filed an untimely response.
The unchallenged findings, as set forth in the special master’s reports, show that Murray, who practices primarily in the area of divorce law and criminal defense, had a volume practice in offices located in Carrollton and Dallas, Georgia. In 2006, he also purchased the law practice of an attorney in Douglasville, Georgia. Since the end of 2007, Murray has represented approximately 1,400 people in cases involving numerous court appearances. Murray relies heavily on clerical help to keep his clients informed, and his staff uses check-off forms that are sent in the mail when communication with a client is necessary.
