in the Matter of John R. Thompson ( 2015 )

In the Supreme Court of Georgia
Decided: October 5, 2015
S15Y1620. IN THE MATTER OF JOHN R. THOMPSON.
PER CURIAM.
This disciplinary matter is before the Court on the Report and
Recommendation of the Review Panel of the State Bar, which recommends that
John R. Thompson (State Bar No. 708600) be disbarred, following the
unsuccessful conclusion of his appeal of his federal felony convictions for
conspiracy under 18 USC § 371; bank fraud under 18 USC § 1344; wire fraud
under 18 USC § 1343; and mail fraud under 18 USC § 1341. Thompson was
convicted by a jury of the four felony counts on July 14, 2011, and, on
November 7, 2011, this Court accepted Thompson’s petition seeking voluntary
suspension of his license pending the appeal of his convictions. See In the
Matter of Thompson, 290 Ga. 81 (717 SE2d 480) (2011). On April 2, 2012, the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion affirming
Thompson’s convictions but vacating his sentence and remanding to the district
court for resentencing. See United States v. Thompson, 463 F. App'x 887 (11th
Cir. 2012). On remand, Thompson was resentenced by the district court, and he
then sought to appeal, but his two notices of appeal were dismissed by the
Eleventh Circuit on May 15, 2013 and June 17, 2013, respectively.
Following the conclusion of Thompson’s federal criminal appeal, the State
Bar petitioned, pursuant to Bar Rule 4-106 (f) (1), for a hearing on the
appropriate level of discipline to be imposed, and the matter was assigned to
Special Master J. Alvin Leaphart. Thompson did not file a written response to
the Bar’s petition or attend the hearing on the petition, and Leaphart concluded
that Thompson had exhausted his criminal appeals and that disbarment was
appropriate in light of his violation of Rule 8.4 (a) (2) of the Georgia Rules of
Professional Conduct, see Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The Special Master’s Report was
filed with this Court, but this Court remanded the matter, pursuant to Bar Rule
4-106 (f) (2), to the Review Panel. Upon consideration of the Special Master’s
Report and supplemental information provided by the State Bar concerning the
disposition of Thompson’s federal criminal appeal, the Review Panel adopted
the Special Master's findings and conclusion that disbarment is the appropriate
sanction in this matter.
Having reviewed the record, we conclude that disbarment is the
2
appropriate sanction in this matter. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the
name of John R. Thompson be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to
practice law in the State of Georgia. Thompson is reminded of his duties
pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (c).
Disbarred. All the Justices concur.
3