The duty of an attorney to maintain respect due to courts and judicial officers is absolute, even amidst contentious litigation. Attorney Jeffrey Jason Olin (State Bar Number 298826) of Pixley, California, faced severe discipline—a nine-month actual suspension—for a sustained pattern of disrespectful communication and an act of moral turpitude involving a credible threat of violence.
The State Bar Court’s Review Department increased the recommended discipline from 90 days to nine months, emphasizing that Olin’s actions represented a serious departure from the required standards of civility and integrity. The discipline is effective October 3, 2025.
The Core Misconduct: Harassment and Moral Turpitude
Olin’s misconduct occurred during a contentious family law matter involving his ex-wife and son. The charges stemmed from egregious and abusive communications sent to multiple judicial officers:
-
Failing to Maintain Respect (Bus. & Prof. Code $\S$ 6068(b)): Olin was found culpable of sending disrespectful and demeaning emails to judicial officers. In one instance, he emailed a judge with the subject line “Bribed?” and accused the judge of corruption, implying a bribe was taken from his ex-wife’s boyfriend. The court found this was a false accusation of bribery made in reckless disregard of the truth.
-
Moral Turpitude (Threat of Violence): The most serious finding was a violation of Business and Professions Code section 6106 for moral turpitude based on a threat of violence. Olin sent an email to a court commissioner stating that if he won the lottery, he would pay someone to kill her minor child. This shocking threat crossed the line from advocacy to criminality.
The State Bar Court affirmed the culpability on these charges, noting that the abusive criticism departed from “normal or excessive zealous advocacy” and warranted serious discipline.
The Final Sanction: Increased Suspension
The State Bar Court’s Review Department ultimately determined that the recommended 90-day suspension was insufficient given the seriousness of the misconduct:
-
Actual Suspension: The final sanction imposed was a nine-month actual suspension from the practice of law.
-
Probation: Olin was placed on two years of probation following the suspension.
-
Effective Date: The discipline is effective October 3, 2025 (Case No. 23-O-30674).
The substantial increase in the actual suspension period reflects the court’s increasing concern about attorney civility and the need to protect the public, the courts, and the legal profession from harassment and threats against judicial officers.
Conclusion: No Protection for Abuse
The case against Jeffrey Jason Olin serves as a powerful reminder that the constitutional protection of free speech does not shield an attorney from professional discipline for conduct that undermines the integrity of the judicial system. When criticism departs from professional advocacy and enters the realm of harassment, misogynistic language, or credible criminal threats against a judicial officer or their family, the license to practice will be severely curtailed.
The nine-month suspension ensures a lengthy period of removal from practice to impress upon Olin the seriousness of his actions and the absolute necessity of civility and professional respect.
