NEW ORLEANS — The Supreme Court of Louisiana recently disbarred and revoked the law license of attorney June A. Placer.
The ruling was handed down Nov. 7.
According to court documents, Placer was formally charged by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel following a criminal conviction. Initially, two formal charges were filed, though Placer responded to only one. The ODC later consolidated the charges in September 2015. The disciplinary charges stem from four separate incidents taking place between 2005 and 2012.
In June 2005, Placer was charged with shoplifting more than $300 worth of merchandise from a Macy’s department store in Honolulu. Placer pleaded no contest to the charge of second-degree theft and was placed on supervised probation. According to court documents, the criminal charges violated the Hawaii Rules for Professional Conduct. Placer cited personal issues and adverse reactions to medication as her reasoning. The attorney failed to appear for a hearing regarding the conduct in March 2015.
The second incident involves misconduct on the attorney’s part in her divorce proceedings. Supreme Court documents state that Placer allegedly violated rules including, but not limited to, knowingly making a false statement, offering false evidence, falsifying evidence, engaging in dishonest conduct, and violating the Rules of Professional Conduct. The series of alleged violations occurred between May 2011 and March 2012 when the complaint was filed against her.
Following the divorce proceedings, Placer was involved in a car accident and was allegedly under the influence. She was charged with a DWI and several other criminal offenses. The ODC claims the misconduct violated Rule 8.4(b), or “commission of a criminal act reflecting adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.”
The final offense occurred in March 2013, when Placer was pulled over by Tangipahoa Parish officers for “driving in an erratic fashion.” The police alleged that Placer was in possession of crack cocaine. The attorney was arrested and pleaded guilty to the possession charges, incurring a three-year prison sentence. However, court documents state that the “jail term was deferred and respondent was placed on supervised probation through Probation and Parole Board.” On Aug. 7, 2014, a warrant was issued for Placer because of failure to attend a parole check-in.
The hearing committee determined that there was sufficient evidence to support allegations of misconduct. The committee findings were then passed to the state’s Disciplinary Board and disbarment was recommended to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
As of the writing of the Supreme Court decision, Placer remained a fugitive.
The Louisiana Supreme Court is in New Orleans and was established in 1813 as the highest court in the state. It is presided over by seven justices; Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, Greg G. Guidry, Scott Crichton, James T. Genovese, Marcus R. Clark, Jefferson D. Hughes III, and John L. Weimer.