In THE MATTER OF JAMES HOWARD SINNOTT (Two Cases)

321 Ga. 259

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: March 4, 2025
• Docket: S25Y0420, S25Y0532
• Status: Published

Opinion

321 Ga. 259 FINAL COPY

S25Y0420, S25Y0532. IN THE MATTER OF JAMES HOWARD

SINNOTT (two cases).

PER CURIAM.

These disciplinary matters concern James Sinnott (State Bar

No. 649120), who was convicted in the United States District Court

for the Northern District of Georgia of one count of conspiracy to

defraud the United States; one count of conspiracy to commit wire

fraud; 15 counts of aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns;

and five counts of subscribing to false tax returns. Case No.

S25Y0532 is before the Court on the report and recommendation of

Special Master Christopher S. Brasher, who was appointed

pursuant to Bar Rule 4-106 (a)1 to recommend the appropriate

1 Bar Rule 4-106 (a) provides:

Upon receipt of information or evidence that a conviction for any felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude has been entered against a lawyer, the Clerk of the State Disciplinary Boards shall immediately assign the matter a State Disciplinary Board docket number. The Office of the General Counsel shall petition the Supreme Court of Georgia for the appointment of a Special Master to conduct a show cause hearing. discipline for Sinnott’s apparent violation of Rule 8.4 (a) (2) of the

Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d).2

Following an evidentiary hearing, the Special Master issued his

report and recommendation, in which he noted that Sinnott’s direct

appeal of his convictions remains pending and recommended that

Sinnott, who has been a member of the Bar since 1999, be suspended

from the practice of law until his direct appeal is resolved. Neither

Sinnott nor the State Bar has filed exceptions to the Special Master’s

report and recommendation.

Having reviewed the record, we agree with the Special

Master’s recommended discipline. See In the Matter of Robertson,

319 Ga. 531 (904 SE2d 502) (2024) (imposing voluntary suspension

of license pending outcome of appeal of criminal conviction). See also

In the Matter of Otuonye, 302 Ga. 374 (806 SE2d 524) (2017) (same).

We also dismiss as moot Case No. S25Y0420, in which Sinnott filed

directly in this Court a petition for voluntary discipline seeking the

2 Rule 8.4 (a) (2) provides that it shall be a violation of the Georgia Rules

of Professional Conduct for a lawyer to be convicted of a felony. The maximum penalty for a violation of Rule 8.4 (a) (2) is disbarment.

2 same discipline recommended by the Special Master. Accordingly, it

is hereby ordered that James Sinnott be suspended from the practice

of law in this State pending the outcome of his direct appeal and

until further order of this Court. Sinnott is ordered to notify the

State Bar’s Office of General Counsel in writing within ten days of

the final disposition of his direct appeal, and he is reminded of his

duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (b).

Interim suspension in Case No. S25Y0532. Petition dismissed as moot in Case No. S25Y0420. All the Justices concur.

Decided March 4, 2025.

Suspension.

Paula J. Frederick, General Counsel State Bar, Russell D.

Willard, General Counsel State Bar Designate, William D. NeSmith

III, Deputy General Counsel State Bar, William V. Hearnburg, Jr.,

Andreea N. Morrison, Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State

Bar of Georgia.

Garland Samuel & Loeb, Kristen W. Novay, for Sinnott.