Disciplinary Actions -3/2/12

The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission brings charges against attorneys who have violated the state’s rules for admission to the bar and Rules of Professional Conduct. The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications brings charges against judges, judicial officers, or judicial candidates for misconduct. Details of attorneys’ and judges’ actions for which they are being disciplined by the Supreme Court will be included unless they are not a matter of public record under the court’s rules.

Public reprimand
Kenneth D. Faw, of Fayette County, has received a public reprimand by the Indiana Supreme Court, per a Feb. 15, 2012, order. Faw, as prosecutor of Fayette County, decided to personally handle a matter involving the arrest of the husband of a prosecutor’s office employee instead of appointing a special prosecutor. Faw spoke to the officer who arrested the husband for theft and no criminal charges were filed.

Faw has no disciplinary history, was cooperative with the Disciplinary Commission, and is remorseful. The justices issued the public reprimand for violating Indiana Professional Conduct Rule 1.7(a)(2), which prohibits representing a client (the state) when the representation may be materially limited by the attorney’s own self-interest or the attorney’s responsibilities to a third person.

Suspension
Jacob A. Atanga, of Marion County, has been suspended by the Indiana Supreme Court, effective immediately, per a Feb. 15, 2012, order. On Nov. 22, 2011, the Supreme Court ordered Atanga to show cause why he shouldn’t be immediately suspended for failure to cooperate with the Disciplinary Commission’s investigation of a grievance filed against him.

He has been suspended for noncooperation with the commission, which will continue until further order of the Supreme Court. The justices ordered he reimburse the commission $505.79 for costs in prosecuting the matter.

Deborah S.D. Julian, of Johnson County, has been suspended by the Indiana Supreme Court, effective immediately, per a Feb. 15, 2012, order. On Dec. 20, 2011, the Supreme Court ordered Julian to show cause as to why she shouldn’t be immediately suspended for failure to cooperate with the Disciplinary Commission’s investigation into a grievance filed against her. She has been suspended for noncooperation with the commission, which will continue until the Disciplinary Commission verifies that she has fully cooperated with the investigation; the investigation or any disciplinary proceedings arising from the investigation are disposed of; or until further order of the Supreme Court. The justices ordered she reimburse the commission $523.21 for costs in prosecuting the matter.

Resignation
Neil E. Holbrook, of St. Joseph County, has resigned from the bar, effectively immediately. The justices accepted the resignation in a Feb. 15, 2012, order. Any pending attorney disciplinary proceedings have been dismissed as moot.

Thomas F. Lewis III, of St. Joseph County, has resigned from the bar, effective immediately. The justices accepted the resignation in a Feb. 15, 2012, order. Any pending attorney disciplinary proceedings have been dismissed as moot.•