In the Matter of John Carl Huber

908 S.E.2d 626, 320 Ga. 314

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: November 5, 2024
• Docket: S24Y1132
• Status: Published

Opinion

320 Ga. 314 FINAL COPY

S24Y1132. IN THE MATTER OF JOHN CARL HUBER.

PER CURIAM.

This disciplinary matter is before the Court on the petition for

voluntary surrender of license filed by John Carl Huber (State Bar

No. 125360) prior to the issuance of a formal complaint. See Bar Rule

4-227 (b) (2). Huber, who has been a member of the State Bar since

2013, admits that on March 1, 2022, he was convicted of six felony

counts and five misdemeanor counts, as follows: one count of

aggravated assault in violation of OCGA § 16-5-21; one count of

burglary in the first degree in violation of OCGA § 16-7-1 (b); one

count of exploitation of an elder person in violation of OCGA § 16-5-

102 (a); one count of aggravated stalking in violation of OCGA § 16-

5-91; one count of terroristic threats in violation of OCGA § 16-11-

37 (b); one count of false imprisonment in violation of OCGA § 16-5-

41; two counts of battery in violation of OCGA § 16-5-23 (f); two

counts of hindering an emergency call in violation of OCGA § 16-10- 24.3; and theft by taking in violation of OCGA § 16-8-2. Huber

admits that due to his felony convictions, he violated Rule 8.4 (a) (2)1

of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-

102 (d). The maximum sanction for a violation of Rule 8.4 (a) (2) is

disbarment.

Huber filed a notice of appeal of his convictions to the Court of

Appeals, and a petition for an order of interim suspension pending

final resolution of his appeal with this Court. On August 9, 2022, we

accepted his petition and suspended him from the practice of law. In

the Matter of Huber, 314 Ga. 426 (877 SE2d 243) (2022). On June

27, 2023, the Court of Appeals issued its opinion, in which it agreed

that one of the misdemeanor battery counts should have merged

with the felony elder abuse count for sentencing, and accordingly

vacated in part and remanded for re-sentencing; however, the Court

of Appeals otherwise affirmed his convictions and sentences. See

Huber v. State, 368 Ga. App. 401 (890 SE2d 271) (2023). Huber filed

1 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. 2 a petition for a writ of certiorari, which we denied. See Case No.

S23C1147 (denied February 6, 2024). The trial court then entered

an amended sentencing order merging the two counts. Huber

remained incarcerated from his date of arrest on May 12, 2021,

through and until his release on May 12, 2023. On May 12, 2023,

Huber states that he entered a rehabilitation facility, where he

remained until May 12, 2024, when he successfully completed the

program, and he has since complied with all court orders in the

criminal matter.

Huber asks that this Court accept his voluntary surrender of

license and that it be entered nunc pro tunc to May 12, 2021, the day

he attests he quit practicing law. See In the Matter of Onipede, 288

Ga. 156, 156-157 (702 SE2d 136) (2010). In support, he included with

his petition his own affidavit as well as one from his employer at the

time of this incident.

The State Bar has responded and agrees with Huber that this

Court should accept the petition for voluntary surrender of license

nunc pro tunc to May 12, 2021, because Huber has made the

3 evidentiary showing required under Onipede. See 288 Ga. at 157

(“[W]hen an attorney requests entry of a suspension or voluntary

surrender order nunc pro tunc, it is the lawyer’s responsibility to

demonstrate that they voluntarily stopped practicing law, the date

on which their law practice ended, and that they complied with all

the ethical obligations implicated in such a decision, such as

assisting clients in securing new counsel and facilitating the

transfer of client files and critical information about ongoing cases

to new counsel.”). Specifically, the State Bar notes that by affidavit,

Huber demonstrated that he voluntarily stopped the practice of law

on May 12, 2021, and complied with all ethical obligations

implicated by his cessation of the practice of law.

Having reviewed the record, we agree to accept Huber’s

petition for voluntary surrender of his license, which is tantamount

to disbarment, nunc pro tunc to May 12, 2021. Accordingly, it is

ordered that the name of John Carl Huber be removed from the rolls

of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. Huber

is reminded of his duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (b).

4 Petition for voluntary surrender of license accepted. All the Justices concur.

Decided November 5, 2024.

Voluntary surrender of license.

Paula J. Frederick, General Counsel State Bar, 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.