The appellate court here in the NYS Capital Region reinstated Michael Boxley
to membership in the state bar yesterday. Matter of Boxley, App.Div. 3d Dept,
D-80-06, March 23, 2006. Boxley had received a one-year suspension in June
2004. The new Order does not mention any facts in the case, but merely recites
that
Jones & Boxley
S. Dickstein/Times Union
“We are … satisfied that respondent [Boxley] has complied with the
requirements of this court’s rules governing reinstatement and that he
possesses the character and general fitness to resume the practice of
law.”
The per curiam order also noted that the Committee on Professional Standards
was not opposed to his application to have the license reinstated. So, is this
just a run-of-the-mill lawyer discipline story, of no interest to the public or the
profession?
Not exactly. See Boxley & Jones: Giving Lawyers a Bad Name, Bigtime, our
post from Feb. 26, 2004, for a detailed look at the story. Here’s a summary:
Boxley was the chief legislative assistant to the most powerful Democrat
in the State, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
He was accused of raping a young legislative staffer (similar charges had
been made by another staffer in 2001).
He was allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor sexual assult. His lawyer,
E Stewart Jones, said a black man could not get a fair trial in Albany, so he
took the plea, to save Boxley’s law license. Jones then slurred the young
woman.
Boxley tried but failed to get the Assembly to pay his legal fees.
The Assembly paid $500,000 to Boxley’s victim, when the legislative assistant
sued for sexual harassment.
Boxley has been doing “consulting work” for Powers & Co., the lobbying firm
headed by former state Republican Chairman William Powers. (Capital Connec–
tion weblog, March 23, 2006; Democracy in Albany, March 24, 2006).
[See “Speaker Silver’s former counsel has law license restored,” The Business Review
(Albany), March 23, 2006; “Former aide to Assembly speaker readmitted to practice law,”
Newsday, March 23, 2006]
Sorry, Michael, we consider this disciplinary interruptus to be extremely premature.
While the leaders of the NYS Bar fret over assaults on their dignity and image from
lawyer advertising, we can’t help but wonder what the public thinks of sexual assaults
by, and slaps on the wrists for, politically-connected lawyers with high-profile counsel,
who assails the justice system and decries his client’s excessive punishment.
the first snowfall
doesn’t hide it…
dog poop
smelling like sake
smelling like piss
chrysanthemums
the defeated wrestler, too
joins the crowd…
bright moon
baby sparrow
move aside!
Mr. Horse passes
how annoying!
among chrysanthemums too
the nobles win
translated by David G. Lanoue
March 24, 2006
sex offender Michael Boxley back at the Bar (already)
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