In re Lesansky

Since January 1, 1997, the Legislature has provided for summary disbarment of an attorney convicted of a felony involving moral *13 turpitude. (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6102, subd. (c); Stats. 1996, ch. 1104, § 6.) In this attorney discipline matter, we consider whether an attorney may be summarily disbarred as a result of his felony conviction for attempting to commit a form of child molestation when the crime did not involve a client and did not occur in the practice of law. Because the practice of law requires good moral character, and because petitioner’s felony conviction involves moral turpitude, and thus demonstrates his unfitness for the legal profession, we conclude that summary disbarment is authorized and warranted.

I

In 1985, California admitted petitioner Stuart K. Lesansky to the practice of law. In January 1998, petitioner entered a plea of nolo contendere in Los Angeles Superior Court to one count of an attempted lewd act on “a child of 14 or 15 years” when petitioner was “at least 10 years older than the child.” (Pen. Code, §§ 664, 288, subd. (c)(1).) In March 1998, the record of conviction was sent to the State Bar Court, which placed petitioner on interim…