NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Disbarred Monroe attorney and former city councilman Arthur Gilmore Jr. could be conditionally readmitted to practice law following a recommendation issued Sept. 25 by a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) hearing committee.
The hearing committee's recommendation followed Gilmore's petition in January to be readmitted to practice law in Louisiana, according to the nine-page recommendation issued by LADB Hearing Committee No. 35. Gilmore was disbarred nearly two years ago following his second conviction on racketeering charges.
The hearing committee specifically noted that Gilmore has expressed "deep remorse" for allegedly accepting bribes while he was a city councilman and he "accepts responsibility for the error of his conduct as an elected official," the recommendation said.
"[Gilmore] is deeply sorrowful and contrite for his action and the damage caused by his lack of judgment to his family, the public and his faith," the recommendation said. "Moreover, [Gilmore] is remorseful for the damage he caused to the legal profession and publicly elected officials by his actions."
Conditions the hearing committee recommended included requirements that Gilmore satisfy judgments by consent, as well as a promissory note to the state attorney disciplinary board for nearly $4,000 and that he attend ethics school.
The recommendation was signed Sept. 11 by committee chair Pamela A. Stewart. Committee attorney member Tyler G. Storms and public member C. Bennett Humphries concurred in the recommendation.
Gilmore was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on April 15, 1983, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website.
In June 2010, Gilmore was indicted by a federal grand jury in Louisiana's Western District on racketeering charges over allegations he accepted bribes while he was a Monroe city councilman to use that official position to influence the city council in the outcome of zoning issues. In May 2011 Gilmore was found guilty on both charges and, after being granted a new trial, found guilty again in May 2013.
The following September, Gilmore was sentenced to 24 months in prison and the judgment against him was affirmed on appeal in November 2014.
In January 2016, an LADB hearing committee recommended Gilmore be disbarred, a recommendation with which the LADB concurred the following May. The Louisiana Supreme Court disbarred Gilmore in October 2016.