NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – Livingston attorney A. Wayne Stewart was recently allowed to permanently resign from the practice of law following an Oct. 5 Louisiana Supreme Court order ahead of an investigation into allegations he offered to trade legal services for sex.
"(Stewart) now seeks to permanently resign from the practice of law in lieu of discipline," the high court said in its single-page order. "The office of disciplinary counsel has concurred in (Stewart)'s petition."
Stewart submitted his petition for permanent resignation from the practice of law in Louisiana amidst the office of disciplinary counsel's investigation into allegations against him. The office of disciplinary counsel "is conducting an investigation into allegations that (Stewart) requested an intimate sexual relationship with a client in lieu of payment of attorney's fees," the order said.
Offering legal services in exchange for sex is a violation of professional conduct rules regarding conflict of interest with current clients, according to the order.
Stewart was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on April 28, 1978, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website. No prior discipline was listed on his state bar profile.
Allegations against Stewart came shortly after a video emerged of a man alleged to be Stewart offering to trade legal services for sex. At least eight women have come forward accusing Stewart of inappropriate behavior with them, according to a local news outlet's report.
Stewart has said the man in the video is not him.
The state Supreme Court's order said Stewart is permanently prohibited from practicing law in Louisiana "or in any other jurisdiction in which he is admitted to the practice of law" and that he is permanently prohibited from seeking readmission in Louisiana "or in any other jurisdiction in which he is admitted." Stewart also is "permanently prohibited from seeking admission to the practice of law in any jurisdiction," the order said.