In re Westerfield

828 N.E.2d 1287, 2005 Ind. LEXIS 605, 2005 WL 1422296

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: June 16, 2005
• Docket: No. 98S00-0407-DI-308
• Status: Published

Opinion

ORDER CONVERTING SUSPENSION FOR NONCOOPERATION WITH THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS TO INDEFINITE SUSPENSION

On September 13, 2004, pursuant, to Ind. Admission and Discipline Rule 23(10), this Court suspended the respondent, Divi-na K. Westerfield, from the practice of law in this state for failing to provide to the Disciplinary Commission a response to a grievance filed against her. The Disciplinary Commission has now moved to have the respondent's suspension converted to an indefinite suspension from the practice of law, pursuant to Admis.Disc.R. 23(10)(f)(d). The respondent has not responded to the Commission's motion to convert her current suspension.

We now find that more than six months have passed since the respondent was suspended due to her noncooperation with the disciplinary process. Accordingly, given the passage of time and the respondent's continued failure to cooperate with the disciplinary process, we now find that the respondent's suspension should be converted to an indefinite suspension from the practice of law, pursuant to Admis.Dise.R. 23(10)(F)(4).

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the current suspension from the practice of law of the respondent, Divina K. Wes-terfield, for failure to cooperate with the disciplinary process is hereby converted to an indefinite suspension, effective immediately. Accordingly, in order to become readmitted to the practice of law in this state, the respondent must successfully petition this Court for readmittance pursuant to Admis.Dise.R. 28(4).

The Clerk of this Court is directed to forward notice of this Order to the respondent or her attorney, to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, and to all other entities pursuant to Ad-mis.Disc. R. 28, Section 3(d).

All Justices concur.