NEW ORLEANS — Disbarred Monroe attorney and former city councilman Arthur Gilmore Jr. has been readmitted following a Feb. 15 Louisiana Supreme Court decision and his release from federal imprisonment over racketeering charges.
"After considering the record in its entirety, we find [Gilmore] has met his burden of proving that he is entitled to be readmitted to the practice of law on a conditional basis," the state Supreme Court said in its four-page decision issued Feb. 18.
The high court also placed Gilmore on three years' supervised probation, which will begin when he, the office of disciplinary counsel and his probation monitor execute a formal probation plan, according to the court's decision. Gilmore also was ordered to pay all costs in the matter.
Under his conditional readmission, Gilmore must continue making payments on an August 2017 disciplinary board promissory note and provide a plan to repay two consent judgments in favor of a bank. Gilmore also is required to "make a good faith effort" in other financial obligations in his case, provide monthly trust account statements and complete the Louisiana State Bar Association's ethics school.
Gilmore's reinstatement was effective immediately.
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 for allegedly accepting bribes while he was a Monroe city councilman in exchange for using his position to influence city council in zoning measures. In May 2011 Gilmore was found guilty on both charges and, after being granted a new trial, was found guilty again in May 2013.
In September 2013, Gilmore was sentenced to 24 months in prison and the judgment against him was affirmed on appeal in November 2014.
In July 2015 Gilmore, then 61, was released from prison, according to an online federal inmate search.
Gilmore was disbarred following an October 2016 Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding. His disbarment was made retroactive to his June 9, 2013 interim suspension.
In January 2018 Gilmore applied for readmission to practice law in Louisiana.
Last month the LADB issued a sharply split recommendation, with three board members dissenting, that Gilmore be conditionally readmitted.