In the Matter of Attorney G.

Summary

The court held that its plenary authority permitted review of the dismissal of an attorney-discipline complaint even though the disciplinary rules did not provide an ordinary appeal from such a dismissal. It further held that the retaining-lien statute does not authorize an attorney to retain a United States passport to secure payment of legal fees, and that no other law permitted withholding the passport under the applicable professional-conduct rule. The court left the dismissal in place but disapproved the Hearing Board's rationale.