NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) — Longtime Springfield attorney Ashton DeVan Pardue has been voluntarily suspended following a June 17 Louisiana Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding ahead of multiple formal charges.
In its single-page attorney disciplinary proceeding, the state high court suspended Pardue from practicing law in Louisiana for one year.
The court also ordered Pardue to pay all costs and expenses in the matter, with legal interest to begin 30 days from the date of the court's judgment until paid.
The court suspended Pardue after accepting a petition for consent discipline reached between Pardue and the office of disciplinary counsel. The petition for consent discipline was filed with the court after the office of disciplinary counsel lodged formal charges against Pardue following an investigation, according to the court's disciplinary proceeding.
Pardue was alleged to have neglected a legal matter, failed to communicate with a client and to have engaged in a personal relationship with a current client, according to the proceeding, which said Pardue admitted to the misconduct in the petition for consent discipline.
Pardue was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on Oct. 9, 1998, according to his profile at the Louisiana State Bar Association's website.
In a previous discipline, Pardue was voluntarily suspended three months following a March 2016 Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding. That disciplined followed his arrest on charges of operating a vessel while intoxicated, aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer and having no stern lights on the vessel he was operating.
Pardue subsequently plead no contest to careless operation and flight from an officer, according to the 2016 disciplinary proceeding.
Pardue and the office of disciplinary counsel reached a joint petition for consent discipline, which was filed with and accepted by the court, after the office began its investigation and filed formal charges against Pardue.
Pardue also was required to pay all costs and expenses, plus interest in that discipline.