NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Supreme Court recently suspended Johnny S. Anzalone, an Alexandria attorney, following the attorney's convictions for driving while intoxicated.
According to the May 12 Supreme Court Order, the attorney was charged with driving while intoxicated and driving over the speed limit in January 2013.
The attorney also tested positive for cocaine and methadone when his blood was test during the criminal proceedings, according to court documents.
Anzalone was found guilty of the DWI on March 17, 2014. A bench warrant was later issued for the attorney in December 2014 for his failure to attend court for a probation monitoring session.
The attorney was charged with his second DWI on March 14, 2014. In addition, Anzalone was charged with improper lane usage and driving with a suspended license.
The attorney allegedly admitted to the arresting officer that he was under the influence of "meth." Anzalone pleaded nolo contendere to the DWI charge, and the Rapides Parish court agreed to dismiss the remaining charges by filing a nolle prosequi, according to the high court's ruling.
The Louisiana State Bar sent notices of the disciplinary charges to the attorney, who acknowledged the charges, but contested that he had not willingly or knowingly ingested cocaine and that the methadone was prescribed by a doctor.
The attorney was suspended for one year and one day retroactive to his interim suspension in May 2014. Anzalone has been a member of the state bar since 1994. He also was ruled ineligible to practice in June 2015 for failing to comply with the continuing legal education hours required to keep his license in good standing.