In re Jones

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS
No. 22-BG-808
IN RE ANTOINI M. JONES,
DDN: 2022-D017
A Member of the Bar of the
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Bar Registration No. 428159BEFORE: Beckwith, Easterly, and Deahl, Associate Judges.
ORDER
(FILED— January 5, 2023)
On consideration of the certified order from the state of Maryland suspending
respondent by consent for 60 days, stayed in favor of one year of probation with
terms; this court’s October 28, 2022, order directing respondent to show cause why
reciprocal discipline should not be imposed; respondent’s response arguing that the
underlying disciplinary case would have been resolved as a fee dispute had it been
brought in the District, requesting no sanction, and alternatively requesting
reciprocal discipline be imposed concurrent to the Maryland discipline; and the
statement of Disciplinary Counsel, it is
ORDERED that Antoini M. Jones is hereby suspended from the practice of
law in the District of Columbia for 60 days, stayed in favor of one year of probation
subject to full compliance with the terms imposed by the state of Maryland. See In
re Sibley, 990 A.2d 483, 487-88 (D.C. 2010) (explaining that there is a rebuttable
presumption in favor of imposition of identical discipline and exceptions to this
presumption should be rare). Respondent’s argument against reciprocal discipline
is essentially an attempt to relitigate factual matters, and “reciprocal discipline
proceedings are not a forum to reargue the foreign discipline.” In re Zdravkovich,
831 A.2d 964, 969 (D.C. 2003). Further, appellant agreed in the joint petition that
he had mishandled entrusted client funds. Additionally, respondent is ineligible to
No. 22-BG-808
have his suspension run concurrent to the Maryland discipline, because he failed to
self-report his discipline. See In re Ayres-Fountain, 955 A.2d 157, 160-61 (D.C.
2008) (“This court has established that in order for an attorney’s suspension in this
jurisdiction to run concurrently with any foreign discipline, the attorney must
promptly notify Bar Counsel of the foreign discipline.”).
PER CURIAM