Walker

We review the recommendation of the Review Department of the State Bar (review department) that petitioner Gerald Lee Walker be disbarred from the practice of law in California. After considering the record and petitioner’s objections, we accept the review department’s recommendation.

Background

Petitioner was admitted to the California Bar in 1972. From 1972 until 1978, he worked at a law firm in Merced. He then moved to Sonora and opened his own office; within a few months, however, he was forced to close his practice in order to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. In 1979, petitioner returned’ to Merced and formed a partnership with Ralph Temple.

In the early 1980’s, petitioner ran into severe financial and personal problems. His partnership with Temple dissolved in April 1983 (though he continued to share office space and overhead expenses with Temple until leaving the state the next year). Soon thereafter, he and his wife filed for divorce.

The review department’s recommendation of disbarment stems from petitioner’s abandonment of his practice in late 1983. In September of that year, petitioner began missing work. He failed to return telephone calls from clients,…