2020 INVESTIGATIVE SUMMARY 5

INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ACTIVE BAR MEMBERSHIP

A Department attorney self-reported to OPR that his only active bar membership had been suspended for approximately six weeks because he failed to timely pay his annual bar membership dues.  OPR conducted an investigation and concluded that the attorney did not commit professional misconduct or exercise poor judgment when he failed to continuously maintain at least one active bar membership.  Rather, OPR concluded that the attorney’s failure to maintain an active bar membership was the result of a mistake.  OPR found that the attorney inadvertently failed to update his contact information with his state bar after he went on a temporary work detail and moved his residence, which caused him not to receive annual dues notices from the bar.  OPR considered unique, extenuating circumstances that explained the attorney’s failure to timely contact the bar.