Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Pierre

Summary

The Court independently reviewed the attorney-discipline record, sustained many of Marylin Pierre’s factual and legal exceptions, and found that she violated the professional-conduct rules by falsely accusing sitting judges of sending people to jail because they could not speak English and by making a knowingly misleading omission on a New York bar application. The Court rejected other alleged violations, including those based on a campaign statement about judicial diversity, judicial-application responses, employment history, and delayed cooperation with Bar Counsel. Considering the serious misconduct, mitigating circumstances, and the unusual timing and circumstances of the investigation, the Court imposed a reprimand. Justice Battaglia concurred, while Justice Watts concurred in part and dissented in part regarding the sanction and investigation-related circumstances.