In the Matter of Eichholz

681 S.E.2d 156, 285 Ga. 674, 2009 Ga. LEXIS 443

Opinions

Per curiam.

This reciprocal discipline matter is before the Court on the Report and Recommendation of the Review Panel of the State Bar, which recommends that the Court impose reciprocal discipline for a suspension Respondent Benjamin S. Eichholz received in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. See Rule 9.4 (b) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct; Bar Rule 4-102. As we recently held in In the Matter of Stubbs, 285 Ga. 702 (681 SE2d 113) (2009), however, the State Bar is not authorized to utilize the reciprocal discipline process when the disciplinary action at issue was taken by a federal trial court. Accordingly, this matter must be dismissed.

Dismissed.

All the Justices concur, except Carley and Hines, JJ., who dissent, and Sears, C. J., disqualified.