In the Matter of John Brandon Walker

• Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Decided: April 8, 2020
• Docket: 2020-000192
• Status: Published

Opinion

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA In The Supreme Court

In the Matter of John Brandon Walker, Respondent.

Appellate Case No. 2020-000192

Opinion No. 27962 Submitted March 18, 2020 – Filed April 8, 2020

RECIPROCAL SUSPENSION

John S. Nichols, Disciplinary Counsel, and Julie K. Martino, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, both of Columbia, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

Nathan Maxwell Crystal, of Crystal & Giannoni-Crystal, LLC, of Charleston, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM: By order of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Respondent was suspended from the practice of law in New York for four months. In re Walker, No. M-6828, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 00835 (N.Y. App. Div. Feb. 4, 2020).

Respondent's New York suspension was related to his pleading guilty to reckless assault in the third degree, a Class A misdemeanor in New York. The criminal charge arose from Respondent's physical assault of the Complainant in his home after he drank excessively and "blacked out." The Complainant suffered bruises on her neck, throat, ribcage, and both wrists; contusions on her head; and a scaphoid fracture. A special referee appointed by the New York Supreme Court found the Complainant's assertions that she feared for her life during the attack were credible; Respondent's actions "were aberrational and not in his character"; and Respondent's deep remorse and acceptance of responsibility "were . . . palpable at the hearing." The special referee recommended Respondent receive a public censure. However, in light of the seriousness of Respondent's conduct, the New York Supreme Court found "a period of suspension for such an assault [was] warranted in order to maintain the honor and integrity of the profession and deter others from similar misconduct."

We find reciprocal suspension from the practice of law in South Carolina for four months is appropriate in this matter. We order the reciprocal suspension be imposed retroactively to March 5, 2020 (the date Respondent's New York suspension commenced), and that his South Carolina suspension run concurrently with his New York suspension.

RECIPROCAL SUSPENSION.

BEATTY, C.J., KITTREDGE, HEARN, FEW and JAMES, JJ., concur.