Background
The Supreme Court of Colorado suspended attorney Jeffrey Christopher Keiffer from practicing law for one year and one day. Six months of the suspension were to be served, with the remainder stayed upon his successful completion of a two-year probationary period.
Ohio disciplinary counsel filed a certified copy of the Colorado order with the Supreme Court of Ohio under the reciprocal-discipline rules. The Ohio court ordered Keiffer to show cause why it should not impose identical or comparable discipline. No objections were filed, and the court considered the matter on the certified order.
The Court’s Holding
The Supreme Court of Ohio imposed a reciprocal suspension of one year and one day, with six months to be served and the remainder stayed on the condition that Keiffer comply with the conditions imposed by the Supreme Court of Colorado. If he violates those conditions, the stay will be revoked and he must serve the entire suspension.
The court also held that Keiffer may not be reinstated in Ohio until he has been reinstated in Colorado and satisfies Ohio’s reinstatement requirements. During the suspension, he must cease practicing law, comply with client- and court-notification duties, complete required continuing legal education, and satisfy any applicable reimbursement obligations to the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection.
Key Takeaways
- Ohio imposed discipline comparable to the suspension previously ordered by the Supreme Court of Colorado.
- Keiffer must serve six months of a one-year-and-one-day suspension; the balance is stayed subject to compliance with Colorado’s conditions.
- Reinstatement in Colorado is a prerequisite to Keiffer’s reinstatement to practice law in Ohio.
Why It Matters
The order illustrates how Ohio’s reciprocal-discipline process allows the state to impose comparable sanctions after another jurisdiction disciplines an attorney. When the attorney raises no objection, the Ohio Supreme Court may act on the other jurisdiction’s certified order.
The decision also shows that reciprocal discipline can tie an attorney’s Ohio reinstatement directly to reinstatement in the jurisdiction that imposed the original sanction, while preserving Ohio’s independent reinstatement requirements.