Carter v. Seplocha
Docket: No. 86-322-M.P.
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island; July 23, 1986; Rhode Island; State Supreme Court
The respondent attorney, Joni Seplocha, faced disciplinary action before the Supreme Court under Rule 43 due to a felony conviction involving illegal possession of firearms and controlled substances, resulting in a five-year probation. Following her conviction, disciplinary counsel filed a petition for her to show cause why her law license should not be suspended or revoked. Although she appeared before the court with her attorney, she had multiple unresolved complaints from clients that she had not responded to. The court allowed her time to address these complaints, but she failed to provide any responses or explanations for her absence from meetings with the disciplinary counsel. Given her serious criminal conviction and lack of engagement with the disciplinary process, the court concluded that disbarment was the only appropriate action. Consequently, Joni Seplocha is disbarred from practicing law and must comply with Rule 42-15(a) and (b) by providing the court with the names and addresses of her current clients by August 15, 1986.