In Re William N. Robbins

The Supreme Court denied an attorney's petition for readmission to the Bar after he was disbarred in 2003 for admittedly paying a "runner" to refer clients to his office.

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

This is a petition for readmission as a member of the bar of this state. William Norman Robbins was admitted to the Bar in 1978. He was disbarred by this Court in 2003 for admittedly paying a “runner” to refer clients to his office, in violation of Standard 13 of Bar Rule 4-102 d. In Re Robbins, 276 Ga. 124 575 SE2d 501 2003. As aggravating circumstances, this Court took into account prior disciplinary offenses resulting in four previous reprimands.1 Id. at 125. We also noted that Robbins made false statements during the disciplinary process and refused to acknowledge his conduct was wrongful. Id.

More than five years after the date of disbarment, Robbins filed his application for certification of fitness for readmission. On December 10, 2009, the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants conducted an informal conference for the purpose of considering Robbins’s application. At that conference, with respect to recognition of wrongdoing, Robbins was equivocal as to whether he knew, at the time he paid the runner a fee, that such payment was improper. He did, however, acknowledge that this conduct was the result of bad judgment for which he took responsibility and was sorry for it. With respect to rehabilitation, Robbins presented evidence that since his disbarment he had become more active in his temple, he had become involved in community service by joining the Kiwanis Club, and had become a patient volunteer with the Guillain-Barre Foundation after contracting the disease himself. He declared he was now a different person, and if readmitted he planned to become involved with volunteer lawyering and in community activities with other lawyers. He also testified that he had offered to assist the State Bar in educating the public and the bar about illegal lawyer fee-splitting.

In Re William N. Robbins

The Supreme Court denied an attorney's petition for readmission to the Bar after he was disbarred in 2003 for admittedly paying a "runner" to refer clients to his office.

Share with Email

Thank you for sharing!

Trending Stories

More From ALM

Subscribe to Daily Report