Oklahoma Lawyer Disbarred After Domestic Violence Convictions and Probation Violation

Oklahoma Supreme Court Disbars Lawyer After Domestic Violence Convictions

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has disbarred a lawyer following his guilty pleas to two domestic violence charges and subsequent probation violations. The decision, issued on Tuesday in State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Ass'n v. Barlean, stems from violent incidents involving the Respondent and a romantic partner.

Criminal Convictions and Probation Violations

On January 5, 2023, the Respondent pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of Domestic Assault and Battery. Both charges arose from violent incidents with a woman he had a romantic relationship with:

• August 16, 2021: During an argument, the Respondent strangled or choked the woman until she surrendered her car keys. He was arrested, charged with a felony, and bound over for trial.
• December 2, 2022: While out on bond for the first incident, the Respondent pushed the woman down a flight of stairs during another altercation, injuring her arm. He was arrested again and charged with a misdemeanor.

Under a plea agreement, the felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. The Respondent pled guilty to both charges and agreed to supervised probation, which included restitution, community service, an intervention program, anger management classes, and an alcohol and drug assessment with any recommended treatment. He failed to complete these requirements.

On September 30, 2024, the State moved to accelerate his deferred sentence. On November 22, 2024, the Respondent pled no contest to the motion. Both counts were reduced to convictions, and he was fined.

Respondent’s Defense and Court’s Rejection

The court had previously issued an interim suspension order on May 20, 2024, directing the Respondent to show cause why a final order of discipline should not be imposed. In his response, the Respondent claimed that a June 2021 arrest, a search of his home, and incarceration—unrelated to the domestic violence charges—were illegal and led to his "dark, self-destructive path." He attached a copy of a federal civil rights complaint he had filed regarding the alleged illegal search and incarceration.

The Respondent also argued in his response that he had barely practiced law in Oklahoma and had retired from legal practice in the 2010s. He suggested that disbarment would be unnecessary since he no longer represented clients. However, the court rejected this argument, stating:

"Domestic violence is itself a serious breach of a lawyer's ethical duty and will not be tolerated."

The court emphasized that the Respondent’s actions—pleading guilty to two crimes of violence against an intimate partner and resorting to violence during quarrels—reflect a pattern of misconduct. The second incident occurred while he was out on bond for the first charge, further demonstrating disregard for legal obligations.

Despite the deferred sentence offering an opportunity to avoid convictions, the Respondent admitted he failed to complete the agreed-upon probation requirements. The court concluded that his conduct and the surrounding circumstances warranted disbarment.

Court’s Final Ruling

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the Respondent’s actions violated ethical duties and warranted disbarment. The decision underscores the court’s zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence, particularly among legal professionals entrusted with upholding the law.