WisPolitics Courtwatch Blog

The state Supreme Court today decided not to revoke the law license of former state Sen. Gary George, instead settling on suspension that will allow the Milwaukee Democrat to apply to get his license back in June.

A referee had recommended revoking George's license for his felony convictions in a kickback scheme that landed him in federal prison.

The court found that while George's "misconduct was, indeed extremely serious, it does not warrant the harshest penalty of revocation."

The court decided on a suspension of four years, three months and made it retroactive to March 8, 2004, when George's license was initially suspended following his guilty plea. The ruling noted it was, perhaps, the longest suspension imposed by the court in an attorney disciplinary matter.

The justices noted lawyers whose licenses are revoked may apply for reinstatement after five years; those who have their licenses suspended for more than six months must ask to have their licenses reinstated as well.

George was also ordered to pay the costs of the disciplinary proceedings, which were $14,064.72 as of Dec. 17, 2007, according to the decision.

Justice Louis Butler and David Prosser did not participate in the ruling.

Read the decision:
http://www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/DisplayDocument.pdf?content=pdf&seqNo=32236

Labels: Gary_George

Former state Sen. Gary George's law license should be suspended but not revoked for his conviction on federal charges because his offenses didn't rise to a level that deserves such a severe penalty, his attorney Richard Cayo said today.

The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments today concerning the Office of Lawyer Regulation's recommendation that George's law license be revoked. The referee for OLR made the recommendation following George's federal conviction in a kickback scandal.

If his law license is revoked, George couldn't apply for re-instatement for at least five years.

Cayo and George's other attorney, Mark Hazelbaker, also focused on his long public service and compared his case to former lawmakers Chuck Chvala and Brian Burke - both of whom had their licenses suspended for two years following their felony convictions in the so-called "caucus scandal."

State Bar President Tom Basting, who was retained by OLR, focused on George's plea, in which he admitted to taking money from a lawyer but not providing any legal work.

"That when a public official ... falls from the top, the consequences of the injury to that person are almost always much more severe than when someone slips from a lower level," Basting said.

Cayo said George hasn't begun to pay restitution totaling more than $500,000 to the state of Wisconsin as he awaits the outcome of Scott Jensen's case.

He said the two men faced similar allegations about using state employees for political work, and the results of Jensen's case could be used in a motion seeking to lower George's restitution.

In a brief interview following the hearing, George said he doesn't know when the court will hand down its ruling and wouldn't speculate how long he believes the suspension should last.

"I'm appreciative of the chance to have my case heard before the court," George said.

Justices Louis Butler and David Prosser didn't participate in the hearing.

Listen to the oral arguments:
mms://sc-media.wicourts.gov/sc-media/05AP1978.wma

Labels: Gary_George