Admitting

Missouri Judge Faces Six-Month Suspension, Mental Health Scrutiny After Admitting to Misconduct

by

Carrollton, Mo. – The judicial career of Associate Circuit Court Judge Joe Don McGaugh in Missouri’s Eighth Judicial Circuit hangs in the balance as a commission has suggested a severe disciplinary action. The Eighth Judicial Circuit, inclusive of Carroll and Ray counties, could see McGaugh sidelined for six months without salary following allegations of unethical behavior. The Commission on Retirement, Removal, and Discipline delivered a formal notice of alleged misconduct to McGaugh in August, which triggered the investigative and judicial review process. McGaugh has acknowledged the accusations leveled against him and proposed his terms for … Read more

North Carolina Lawyer Disbarred After Admitting to Misusing Over $55,000 of Firm’s Funds

by

RALEIGH, N.C. — A former North Carolina lawyer, Michael Glenn Wilson, II, has been disbarred after investigations disclosed he misused at least $55,000 of funds from his law firm, Sigmon Clark Mackie Hanvey & Farrell, P.A., also known as Sigmon Clark. These events, which unfolded from March 2022 to January 2024, have raised serious questions about trust and accountability within legal practices. The North Carolina State Bar, responsible for licensing and regulating attorneys in the state, detailed in its proceedings that Wilson admitted to the misappropriation of these funds for personal benefit. This acknowledgment came … Read more

Winnipeg Lawyer Suspended for Six Months After Admitting to Assaulting Articling Student

by

WINNIPEG, Canada — A local lawyer has been suspended for a duration of six months following an incident in which he physically assaulted an articling student. David Hirsch Davis, an attorney practicing alone in Winnipeg, admitted to professional misconduct stemming from the altercation during a Law Society of Manitoba disciplinary hearing held on May 29. The confrontation occurred during a phone call with the federal court registry concerning a case. Davis, who was verifying document submissions on his computer with the student, abruptly struck the student in the groin, prompting immediate physical pain and distress. … Read more

Juror Handcuffed and Jailed After Admitting to Lying in Convicted Killer’s Resentencing Trial

by

ORLANDO, Fla. – A juror in a high-profile murder trial found herself in handcuffs in court on Thursday after admitting to lying to the court. Kayla De Pena, 26, confessed to fabricating a story to avoid participating in the re-sentencing of convicted killer Bessman Okafor. De Pena initially told the judge in November that she had discussed the case with a friend, thereby compromising her ability to impartially consider the death sentence. However, on Thursday, she recanted her statement and claimed that she had never talked about the trial with anyone. Her admission led to … Read more