Published: June 23, 2008 01:19 pm         

Hearings continue through State Bar on Sumrow's status as an attorney

Law license being considered, suspension being requested

AUSTIN — Hearings continue through State Bar on Sumrow’s status as an attorney

Leslie Gibson

Herald-Banner Staff



Rockwall County’s suspended district attorney, Ray Sumrow, said on the stand in a recent hearing on his request for indigent status, that he expected loss of his law license to be “automatic.”

Eventually, he may permanently lose his license, but not before the Board of Disciplinary Appeals (BODA) of Texas holds one or more hearings, on cases being brought forward through an arm of the State Bar of Texas.

It was recently reported by the Herald-Banner that Sumrow might lose his license on Friday, June 20. However, BODA’s determination from the 9 a.m. hearing that day has not been reached.

The State Bar, through the Office of Disciplinary Appeals, has asked that the an order of suspension, as stipulated through the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, be enacted.

Suspension is required when an attorney is convicted of an intentional crime, defined as a felony involving moral turpitude, and appeals ing the conviction, which is the case with Sumrow.

Sumrow has been convicted on two felony charges, both of which he is appealing.

The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel Appeals filed its case April 11, after the March conviction of Sumrow for felony theft.

Now that he has been convicted by a second jury, in June, of abuse of official capacity, the Office is filing a second case could conceivably file a second case seeking Sumrow's disbarment.

“We are asking for the appropriate outcomes,” said Maureen Ray, speaking for the Office.

“I would fully expect that any order based on the hearing this Friday will provide what will happen once the conviction becomes final or in the alternative, if the conviction is overturned upon appeal,” Ray said.

Suspensions are for a definite period of time. After a disbarment, one may apply for reinstatement. Reinstatement requires that one meet 12 areas of criteria as determined by a court, and pass the state bar exam again.