Wigoda, In re

• Citation: 32 Ill.Dec. 341,395 N.E.2d 571,77 Ill.2d 154
• Decision Date: 02 October 1979
• Docket Number: No. 51657,51657
• Parties: , 32 Ill.Dec. 341 In re Paul T. WIGODA, Attorney, Respondent.
• Court: Supreme Court of Illinois

Page 571

395 N.E.2d 571

77 Ill.2d 154, 32 Ill.Dec. 341

In re Paul T. WIGODA, Attorney, Respondent.

No. 51657.

Supreme Court of Illinois.

Oct. 2, 1979.

Jerome Edward Larkin, Chicago, for the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

William J. Harte, Ltd., Chicago (William J. Harte, Chicago, of counsel), for respondent.

CLARK, Justice:

Pursuant to Rule 753(e) (65 Ill.2d R. 753), the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission has been granted leave by us to file exceptions to the report and recommendation (with a dissent) of the Review Board, which affirmed the Hearing Board's recommendation that the respondent, Paul T. Wigoda, a former alderman in the city council of Chicago, be reinstated to the Illinois bar. Also pursuant to Rule 753(e), we allowed the Administrator and respondent to file briefs and orally argue. There is no dispute of facts. A chronology of occurrences is necessary, however.

On October 10, 1974, respondent, admitted to the bar in 1950, was convicted by a jury in Federal district court for filing a false income tax return for the year 1969; he failed to report a $50,000 bribe. He was suspended from the practice of law on March 20, 1975, and disbarred on consent and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys (58 Ill.2d R. 762) on January 26, 1976. Respondent entered a Federal prison January 9, 1976, and was released on July 2, 1976. On July 21, 1977, he petitioned for reinstatement (65 Ill.2d R. 767).

The first issue raised, not directly addressed by this court before, is whether respondent's petition is premature. The Administrator contends the period of time in between respondent's disbarment on consent and his petition 19 months is insufficient to establish a "clear showing" of rehabilitation. The Administrator urges us to seek guidance from our Rule 767 (73 Ill.2d R. 767), as amended subsequent to respondent's petition: "No petition shall be filed within a period of * * * 3 years after the date of an order allowing disbarment on consent * * *." The Administrator readily acknowledges this provision of our rules was not effective until almost a year after respondent filed his petition for reinstatement. At the time of filing respondent's petition, Rule 767 (65 Ill.2d R. 767) provided: "When an attorney who has been * * * disbarred on consent wishes to be reinstated * * *, he shall file his verified petition with the clerk of the court." We disagree with the Administrator's position for several reasons.

First, under Rule 767, as effective on July 21, 1977, respondent filed his petition properly and in good faith. (See In re Estate of Krotzsch (1975), 60 Ill.2d 342, 345, 326 N.E.2d 758.) Second, the period of time between a disbarment on consent and a petition for reinstatement is not dispositive of the determination of rehabilitation. Rather, the evidence is. (We do not imply that the present requirement of three years is arbitrary. That reflects our concern for the gravity of disbarment and the improper act or acts which lead to disbarment. Accordingly, we do not make light of respondent's criminal conviction.) Third, over four years have passed since respondent's suspension and over 31/2 years since his disbarment on consent. It would be meaningless, if not inane, to deny respondent reinstatement on the basis of the sole issue of prematurity, then impliedly and seriously suggest that, since three years have passed, respondent may again begin the process of petitioning for reinstatement.

The second issue raised then is whether respondent has demonstrated that he is rehabilitated, and fit to practice law. The standard to be utilized is that a respondent must establish rehabilitation sufficient for reinstatement, by clear and convincing evidence. (See In re Starr (1976), 64 Ill.2d 407, 415, 1 Ill.Dec. 207, 356 N.E.2d 333.) The Administrator contends that burden has not been met despite the recommendations of the Hearing Board and Review Board that respondent be reinstated. The findings of those boards are, of course, advisory and not binding. (In re Ashbach (1958), 13 Ill.2d 411, 418, 150 N.E.2d 119.) We have repeatedly said, however, that the findings of those boards are "entitled to virtually the same weight as the findings of any initial trier of fact." (In re Hallett (1974), 58 Ill.2d 239, 250, 319 N.E.2d 48, 54. Accord, e. g., In re Reynolds (1965), 32 Ill.2d 331, 336, 205 N.E.2d 429; In re Bossov (1975), 60 Ill.2d 439, 441, 328 N.E.2d 309; In re Smith (1976), 63 Ill.2d 250, 255, 347 N.E.2d 133; In re Teichner (1979), 75 Ill.2d 88, 97, 25 Ill.Dec. 609, 387 N.E.2d 265; and In re Mitan (1979), 75 Ill.2d 118, 124, 25 Ill.Dec. 622, 387 N.E.2d 278.) The Hearing Board (and Review Board) have the opportunity to observe the demeanor of witnesses, judge their credibility and evaluate their testimony. (E. g., In re Bossov (1975), 60 Ill.2d 439, 441, 328 N.E.2d 309.) Where the findings and recommendations of those boards are "based on uncontradicted and clear evidence," they will be adopted. (In re Phelps (1973), 55 Ill.2d 319, 322, 303 N.E.2d 13.) We find the evidence here to be clear, convincing and uncontradicted; therefore we do not agree with the contentions of the Administrator.

The Administrator has contended several things. First, respondent's activities after disbarment, in prison and out, fail to demonstrate rehabilitation. Second, the testimony and affidavits of numerous people, favorable to respondent, lack probative value due to their bias, their failure to distinguish between the periods before and after respondent's conviction, and their lack of extensive or intensive contact with respondent after his release from prison. Third, respondent's continuous assertion of innocence indicates a lack of repentance and is a factor which should be considered in evaluating the evidence. Fourth, respondent is only very reluctantly paying his Federal tax liability (based on the conviction) after initially "refus(ing) to make an arrangement to pay this tax."

We will address each of the Administrator's arguments in reverse order. Given respondent's assertion of innocence, it is not surprising that he has contested his Federal tax liability. However, it is clear he is now ready and willing to pay, which even the Administrator does not deny.

Respondent's assertion of innocence, and therefore, consistent with that, his lack of repentance, are factors to be considered in considering a petition for reinstatement. However, repentance and rehabilitation are not the same. Rehabilitation, the most important consideration in reinstatement proceedings, is a matter of one's "return" to a beneficial, constructive and trustworthy role. Repentance is a matter of contrition and regret. (See, E. g., In re Thomas (1979), 76 Ill.2d 185, 190, 28 Ill.Dec. 531, 390 N.E.2d 890 (Thomas was not convicted of the crimes charged).) We find the comments of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in In re Hiss (1975), 368 Mass. 447, 457-59, 333 N.E.2d 429, 436-37, especially appropriate:

"The continued assertion of innocence in the face of prior conviction does not, as might be argued, constitute Conclusive proof of lack of the necessary moral character to merit reinstatement. Though we deem prior judgments dispositive of all factual issues and deny attorneys subject to disciplinary proceedings the right to relitigate issues of guilt, we recognize that a convicted person may on sincere reasoning believe himself to be innocent. We also take cognizance of Hiss's argument that miscarriages of justice are possible. Basically, his underlying theory is that innocent men conceivably could be convicted, that a contrary view would place a mantle of absolute and inviolate perfection on our system of justice, and that this is an attribute that cannot be claimed for any human institution or activity. We do not believe we can say with certainty in this case, or perhaps any case, what is the true state of mind of the petitioner. Thus, we cannot say that every person who, under oath, protests his innocence after conviction and refuses to repent is committing perjury.

Simple fairness and fundamental justice demand that the person who believes he is innocent though convicted should not be required to confess guilt to a criminal Act he honestly believes he did not commit. For him, a rule requiring admission of guilt and repentance creates a cruel quandary: he may stand mute and lose his opportunity; or he may cast aside his hard-retained scruples and, paradoxically, commit what he regards as perjury to prove his worthiness to practice law. Men who are honest would prefer to relinquish the opportunity conditioned by this rule * * *. Honest men would suffer permanent disbarment under such a rule. Others, less sure of their moral positions, would be tempted to commit perjury by admitting to a nonexistent offense (or to an offense they believe is nonexistent) to secure reinstatement. So regarded, this rule, intended to maintain the integrity of the bar, would encourage corruption in these latter petitioners for reinstatement and, again paradoxically, might permit reinstatement of those least fit to serve. We do not consider in this context the person who admits committing the alleged criminal act but honestly believes it is not unlawful.

Accordingly, we refuse to disqualify a petitioner for reinstatement Solely...