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The Court entered the following order on
this date:
Mary P. Donovan's license to practice law in
Wisconsin was suspended for six months as
the result of professional misconduct that
occurred while she was acting as an
assistant city attorney for the City of
Beloit. The misconduct consisted of her
forging a certificate of completion of a
deferred prosecution program and submitting
it to the municipal court to obtain
dismissal of charges against an acquaintance
who had not been enrolled in the program and
forging a friend's signature on a letter
submitted to the municipal court requesting
a jury trial and representing the city on a
charge against that friend. See
Disciplinary Proceedings Against
Donovan, 211 Wis. 2d 451, 464 N.W.2d 772
(1997).
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Ms. Donovan filed a petition for
reinstatement of her license to practice law
on June 27, 2003. John Schweitzer was
appointed as referee. A public hearing on
Ms. Donovan's petition for reinstatement was
held on December 17, 2003. The referee filed
his report on January 2, 2004 recommending
that Ms. Donovan's license to practice law
be reinstated. The referee's report stated
that Ms. Donovan satisfactorily answered and
addressed all issues listed in SCR 22.29,
which sets forth the various factors that
must be demonstrated by a person seeking
reinstatement. The referee noted that no
evidence was presented at the public hearing
to cast doubt on Ms. Donovan's present
qualifications to practice law. The referee
found that Ms. Donovan had complied with the
requirements of SCR 22.26 regarding the
activities of a person whose license has
been suspended, and the referee concluded
Ms. Donovan may safely be recommended to
return to the practice of law.
The referee specifically found that Ms.
Donovan maintained competence and learning
in the law by attending various educational
activities. The referee noted that a letter
from the Board of Bar Examiners confirmed
that Ms. Donovan had completed the necessary
number of continuing legal education (CLE)
hours, including ethics credits, and that
she is current in her CLE obligations
through December 31, 2004.
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The referee found that Ms. Donovan's conduct
since her suspension has been exemplary and
above reproach; that she has a proper
understanding of and attitude toward the
standards that are imposed upon members of
the bar; and that she can safely be
recommended to the legal profession, the
court and the public as a person fit to be
consulted by others and to represent them
and otherwise act in matters of trust and
confidence and in general to aid in the
administration of justice as a member of the
bar and an officer of the courts.
The referee also recommended that Ms.
Donovan be required to pay the costs of the
reinstatement proceeding within six months
after her reinstatement.
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This court accepts the referee's findings of
fact, conclusions of law, and
recommendation.
IT IS ORDERED that the license to
practice law of Mary P. Donovan be
reinstated effective the date of this order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within six
months of the date of this order Mary P.
Donovan pay the costs of this proceeding. If
the costs are not paid by that date, and
absent a showing to this court of her
inability to pay the costs, the license of
Mary P. Donovan to practice law in Wisconsin
shall be suspended until further order of
this court.
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