Background
Chokwe Antar Lumumba executed a notice of irrevocable resignation from the Mississippi Bar on August 3, 2026. The notice identified one pending disciplinary matter, Docket No. 2026-BD-00787, in which the Bar had sought his suspension after he pleaded guilty to a federal felony.
Lumumba acknowledged that the docketed matter was his only pending disciplinary case, stated that he did not wish to defend it, and asked to resign from the Bar with prejudice. The Mississippi Bar moved the same day for the Supreme Court of Mississippi to accept the resignation and enter an order of disbarment.
The Court’s Holding
The Supreme Court of Mississippi, sitting en banc, granted the Bar’s motion. It held that Lumumba’s notice complied with Rule 11(a) and Procedure 11.1 of the Mississippi Rules of Discipline and that the Bar was entitled to the requested relief.
The court accepted Lumumba’s resignation with prejudice and immediately and permanently disbarred him from practicing law in Mississippi. Under Procedure 11.1, the resignation is disciplinary action and is tantamount to proof of guilt on the charged matter; the court also terminated all outstanding disciplinary proceedings, assessed costs against Lumumba, and imposed the applicable client-notice, trust-fund, and compliance-affidavit obligations.
Key Takeaways
- An irrevocable resignation complying with Procedure 11.1 may result in permanent disbarment.
- The resignation is treated as tantamount to proof of guilt on the pending disciplinary charge.
- Lumumba must notify clients and affected courts within 30 days and file a compliance affidavit within 45 days.
Why It Matters
The order shows that an attorney’s irrevocable resignation in the face of a pending disciplinary case does not avoid discipline. Instead, the resignation permanently revokes the attorney’s Mississippi law license and bars any future reinstatement.