Attorney Aaron Spolin Permanently Disbarred for Exploiting Incarcerated Clients
The power imbalance between an attorney and a client is never starker than when the client is incarcerated and their family is desperate for a path to freedom. Los Angeles attorney Aaron Spolin (State Bar Number 310379) faced the ultimate penalty—permanent disbarment—for a pattern of egregious misconduct that involved systematically misleading and exploiting these vulnerable […]
Attorney David George Smith Disbarred for Misappropriation of Client Funds
The most severe professional sanction—permanent disbarment—has been handed down to veteran Oakland attorney David George Smith (State Bar Number 78228). The Supreme Court of California ordered his permanent removal from the practice of law, effective October 16, 2025, for a pattern of severe financial misconduct, primarily the misappropriation of client funds. For an attorney admitted […]
Todd Stuart Osborne Barred for Client Neglect and Communication Failures
The California State Bar has imposed a significant penalty on Santa Cruz attorney Todd Stuart Osborne, ordering a 90-day actual suspension of his law license, effective September 16, 2025. The sanction was levied following Osborne’s stipulation to multiple acts of professional misconduct across three different client matters, demonstrating a persistent pattern of neglect and poor […]
Attorney David Leon Speckman Disbarred for Misconduct and Conflict of Interest
The ultimate sanction of disbarment has been imposed on California attorney David Leon Speckman for severe and repeated misconduct in the United States Bankruptcy Court. Effective September 17, 2025, the California Supreme Court ordered Speckman’s name to be permanently removed from the roll of attorneys. The disbarment (Case No. S292168) stems from a devastating pattern […]
Gilbert Whitney Leigh Barred from Practice for Failure to Rehabilitate
The legal profession requires attorneys to adhere not only to ethical rules but also to disciplinary orders designed for rehabilitation. Attorney Gilbert Whitney Leigh, a California Bar member since 1991, has faced the severe consequence of a lengthy, indefinite suspension of his law license for a persistent failure to comply with his probationary terms. The […]
Resignation Follows Ethics Complaint: Former Judge Matthew J. Elken Disciplined for Misconduct
MINNESOTA, THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT – Former District Court Judge Matthew J. Elken, who served in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District, resigned from the bench in April 2023 amid an ethics investigation by the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards. His departure was a direct result of disciplinary proceedings stemming from a documented pattern of inappropriate conduct, including […]
Permanent Loss: Stephen John Armstrong Disbarred for Moral Turpitude and Client Fund Failures
The California State Bar has delivered the ultimate professional sanction to attorney Stephen John Armstrong, ordering his permanent disbarment effective November 6, 2025. The ruling was imposed for a devastating combination of ethical violations, including failures in the fundamental handling of client money and an official finding of acts of moral turpitude. For an attorney […]
Attorney Konrad Kirk Kuenstler Permanently Disbarred for Misappropriation of Client Funds
The ultimate professional sanction—permanent disbarment—has been handed down to California attorney Konrad Kirk Kuenstler. Effective October 24, 2025, the order from the State Bar Court removes Kuenstler from the practice of law following a devastating array of ethical failures, primarily the misappropriation of client funds. Kuenstler’s case (Case No. 24-O-30873) is a stark reminder of […]
Attorney Tamara Noel Thomas-Mallery Punished for Pattern of Client Neglect
The practice of law, particularly in sensitive areas like probate and trusts, demands exceptional competence and communication. Attorney Tamara Noel Thomas-Mallery, admitted to the California Bar, faced disciplinary action leading to a 30-day actual suspension of her law license, effective November 6, 2025. The sanction was imposed after Thomas-Mallery stipulated to culpability across three separate […]
Attorney Henry Paul Noto Suspended for DUI Causing Injury and Moral Turpitude
The practice of law demands personal integrity and adherence to the law, a standard tragically violated by California attorney Henry Paul Noto. Noto received a severe 18-month actual suspension of his law license after being convicted of a felony DUI causing injury and admitting to subsequent ethical failures. His case is particularly noteworthy as he […]