In re Donziger

• Decision Date: 21 July 2022
• Docket Number: 18-BG-967
• Citation: 278 A.3d 695 (Mem)
• Parties: IN RE Steven R. DONZIGER A Suspended Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Bar Registration No. 431577
• Court: D.C. Court of Appeals

278 A.3d 695 (Mem)

IN RE Steven R. DONZIGER

A Suspended Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Bar Registration No. 431577

No. 18-BG-967

District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

FILED—July 21, 2022

ORDER

PER CURIAM

On consideration of the certified copy of the order from the state of New York temporarily suspending respondent Steven R. Donziger from the practice of law in that jurisdiction; this court's September 20, 2018, order suspending Mr. Donziger and staying this matter pending resolution of the New York matter; the certified copy of the order from the state of New York disbarring Mr. Donziger from the practice of law in that jurisdiction; this court's April 5, 2022, order lifting the stay and directing Mr. Donziger to show cause why reciprocal discipline should not be imposed; Mr. Donziger's response and exhibits; the statement of Disciplinary Counsel; and it appearing that Mr. Donziger has not filed his D.C. Bar R. XI, § 14(g) affidavit, it is

ORDERED that Steven R. Donziger is hereby disbarred from the practice of law in the District of Columbia. See In re Sibley , 990 A.2d 483, 487 (D.C. 2010) (explaining that there is a rebuttable presumption in favor of imposition of identical discipline and exceptions to this presumption should be rare); see also, e.g. , In re Colson , 412 A.2d 1160, 1164 (D.C. 1979) (en banc) (holding that obstruction of justice is an offense of moral turpitude warranting disbarment); In re Blair , 40 A.3d 883, 884 (D.C. 2012) (holding that witness tampering is an offense of moral turpitude warranting disbarment); In re Tucker , 766 A.2d 510, 513 (D.C. 2000) (holding that bribery is an offense of moral turpitude warranting disbarment).

Although Mr. Donziger argues that exceptions apply and that reciprocal discipline should not be imposed, these arguments mainly attempt to relitigate the discipline imposed by the state of New York, which is not permitted in reciprocal discipline cases. See In re Zappin , 204 A.3d 116, 116–17 (D.C. 2019) (rejecting request for a hearing to dispute underlying findings and discipline imposed in another jurisdiction as improper in a reciprocal discipline proceeding). We have also previously rejected arguments challenging the application of collateral estoppel in reciprocal discipline cases. Id. at 117 (holding that New York state's application of collateral estoppel did not warrant dismissal of a reciprocal discipline proceeding). We also reject Mr. Donziger's claim that the New...