NEW ORLEANS – A Harrisonburg attorney was allowed to permanently resign, a Baton Rouge attorney received a fully deferred suspension and a Mandeville attorney was publicly reprimanded following separate orders recently issued by the Louisiana Supreme Court .
Longtime Harrisonburg attorney Jack F. Owens Jr. was allowed to permanently resign over alleged income tax irregularities following a June 26 Supreme Court order.
Owens asked to be allowed to resign in lieu of discipline after the office of disciplinary counsel filed formal charges alleging Owens failed to file federal tax returns on behalf of his law firm and to remit funds withheld from his employees’ paychecks. The office of disciplinary counsel concurred with Owens' request.
The court's order enjoins Owens from seeking readmission to the bar in Louisiana or to seek admission into any jurisdiction.
Owens was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on Oct. 5, 1973, according to his profile on the Louisiana State Bar Association's website. No prior discipline was listed on his state bar profile or in a search of Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's online database.
Longtime Baton Rouge attorney Ernest L. Johnson has been received a fully deferred voluntary six-month suspension following a Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding.
The high court accepted a joint agreement reached between Johnson and the office of disciplinary counsel in which Johnson acknowledged violating professional conduct rules regarding candor before a tribunal and other misconduct.
Johnson also was ordered to pay all costs and expenses, plus interest, in the matter.
Johnson was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on Oct. 1, 1976, according to his profile on the state bar's website. No prior discipline was listed on his state bar profile or in a search of Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's online database.
Longtime Mandeville attorney Donald C. Douglas Jr. was publicly reprimanded following a Supreme Court attorney disciplinary proceeding after he acknowledged engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
Douglas also was ordered to pay all costs and expenses, plus interest, in the matter.
Douglas was admitted to the bar in Louisiana on Oct. 8, 1993, according to his profile on the state bar's website. No prior discipline was listed on his state bar profile or in a search of Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's online database.