The Standing Committee on Discipline of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California v. John M. Ross

John M. Ross appeals the district court’s order suspending him from the practice of law in the Southern District of California for one year and placing him on probation for an additional four years. The court sanctioned Ross after he violated a number of rules of professional conduct. The issues on appeal are whether the proceeding below was fair, the evidence was sufficient, and the penalty was reasonable. We affirm.

Background

Between 1980 and 1983, in the course of his practice before the District Court and Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of California, Ross consistently violated the American Bar Association Code of Professional Conduct (ABA Code) and the California Rules of Professional Conduct (California Rules). On April 29, 1983, the local Standing Committee on Discipline (the Committee) petitioned the court for an order to show cause why Ross should not be disbarred or suspended. The court held a lengthy hearing on the motion on August 2, and entered its findings ten days later. It ordered Ross suspended from practice for five years, but stayed the last four years of his punishment in favor of probation. On August 22, Ross moved for reconsideration of the order…