Andrew Thomas, Lisa Aubuchon disbarred

vic · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:51 pm

LM K wrote:

From the above link:

Quote:

He also compared himself to great dissidents and civil rights heroes of the past.

“Other men far greater than I have gone to jail in defense of principles they believed in people -- like Gandhi, people like Dr. King, Solzhenitsyn, Thomas Moore -- people who stood for something, and I will tell you there are some things that are worth fighting for,” Thomas said.

The clip is worth watching. When Thomas compared himself to past civil rights heroes, one woman is heard saying "Gandhi?!". The way she said it is hilarious!

Well, he got that right.

Joseph Robidoux III · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:59 am

Lisa Aubuchon's attorney told the Arizona Supreme Court Monday his client will be appealing her disbarment.

Arizona Capitol Times wrote:

A former Maricopa County prosecutor who was disbarred for her role in pushing three failed investigations of public officials in court plans to appeal the decision to take away her law license.
<snipped>
[Andrew] Thomas faces a Friday deadline for appealing the ruling.
http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2012/04/ ... -decision/

poutine · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:56 am

A Legal Lohengrin wrote:

Shagnastie wrote:

Sorry I didn't get that live link up sooner. The scene in the hearing room was fascinating. I didn't get in on the very beginning, but the judge read off over thirty allegations and after each one came the same conclusion: "Clear and convincing evidence of a violation of the rule ..." The Shurf got mentioned a couple of times.

As things proceeded and camera panned, the reactions were clearly divided between supporters and opponents; everyone at the defendants table just slumped and hung their heads, while most of the visitors started smiling. There was a standing round of applause at the conclusion.

Questions for our legal minds:

1. What's the appeals process for this kind of administrative action? Walk us through, please.

This is not, as such, an administrative action, although it walks and talks like one. Bar matters are generally under the ultimate control of the judicial branch, and that is generally the Supreme Court of the state. I have not looked it up, but I would imagine the appeals would go directly to the Supreme Court of Arizona.

Yes. The five justices of the Arizona Supreme Court, all of which are outstanding jurists, will be the final word on this matter. Unless these fools want to take it to the US Supreme Court, of course.

Yesterday, a lawyer friend of mine was assigned the defense of a new insurance case being prosecuted by Aubuchon. We exchanged the expected round of smart aleck remarks given that she won't be a lawyer anymore after May 10.

People around the country really have no idea what a nightmare the newspaper-reading citizenry of Maricopa County have been through during the last several years. As horrific as Sheriff Joe has been, we at least had a chief prosecutor in this county with integrity for most of his reign. That all changed when this incompetent and inexperienced moron suddenly found himself the winner of a Republican primary, merely by winning a plurality vote. (We can blame the rules for that.) Once he was the Republican nominee for this low level position, in a Republican majority county, his victory was essentially sealed.

TexasFilly · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:52 pm **Posts:** 10643

TPM's overview:

Quote:

The Evidence That Might Be Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Undoing

Nick R. Martin April 18, 2012, 5:30 AM

There are times when Sheriff Joe Arpaio has seemed untouchable. In his nearly 20 years in office, he has survived political challenges, court judgments and criminal investigations.

But a ruling filed last week by an arm of the Arizona Supreme Court could prove to be a road map to the Republican lawman’s undoing.

A three-person disciplinary panel of the state’s high court said there was enough evidence to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the sheriff and three of his closest allies participated in what the panel believes was federal crime in December 2009.

The alleged crime doesn’t stem from battles over immigration, pink underwear or any of the other things that have made Arpaio famous. Instead, it deals with a feud among local government officials in which the panel said the sheriff and his allies took things way too far.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.c ... hp?ref=fpa

poutine · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:58 pm

I'm not buying any spill-over theories about this affecting or hurting Arpaio in any way. The only thing that will hurt him is an outright indictment, leading to his being shackled up and tossed in prison. Nothing short of that will hurt him in the least bit because no one in this county reads newspaper articles about local politics except political junkies like me. To most people, he's just the Republican guy who's running for Sheriff and who thinks illegal immigration is bad.

TexasFilly · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:52 pm **Posts:** 10643

The rest of the TPM article contemplates an Arpaio indictment, not just "spillover".

poutine · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:35 pm

I am nonetheless addressing the extreme levels of enthusiasm here and around the country over the perceived impact this event will have on Arpaio. Although I have not read all 200+ pages of the disciplinary report, I have gone through significant portions of it. I am not seeing much if anything that was not already in the public record about Thomas. The federal investigation into Arpaio, meanwhile, has now lasted approximately 4 years. All that has come of that investigation is a bunch of threats of civil lawsuits.

I am not optimistic. I hope my pessimism is proved wrong. As I have previously stated, I want to see that corrupt bastard shackled in handcuffs and forced into an orange jumpsuit. I will personally appear at the first opportunity to see him in that condition.

borealis · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:43 pm

poutine wrote:

I am nonetheless addressing the extreme levels of enthusiasm here and around the country over the perceived impact this event will have on Arpaio. Although I have not read all 200+ pages of the disciplinary report, I have gone through significant portions of it. I am not seeing much if anything that was not already in the public record about Thomas. The federal investigation into Arpaio, meanwhile, has now lasted approximately 4 years. All that has come of that investigation is a bunch of threats of civil lawsuits.

I am not optimistic. I hope my pessimism is proved wrong. As I have previously stated, I want to see that corrupt bastard shackled in handcuffs and forced into an orange jumpsuit. I will personally appear at the first opportunity to see him in that condition.

Orange jumpsuit? Why not neon pink?

LM K · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:29 am

poutine wrote:

I am nonetheless addressing the extreme levels of enthusiasm here and around the country over the perceived impact this event will have on Arpaio. Although I have not read all 200+ pages of the disciplinary report, I have gone through significant portions of it. I am not seeing much if anything that was not already in the public record about Thomas. The federal investigation into Arpaio, meanwhile, has now lasted approximately 4 years. All that has come of that investigation is a bunch of threats of civil lawsuits.

I am not optimistic. I hope my pessimism is proved wrong. As I have previously stated, I want to see that corrupt bastard shackled in handcuffs and forced into an orange jumpsuit. I will personally appear at the first opportunity to see him in that condition.

I think that the article and the report do a good job of explaining just how this latest info may be damning for Arpaio. It may not be. But I plan to hope that it will be damning for him. While the info has been public knowledge for some time, the AZ bar put the info in context in a way that many of us haven't seen before.

The DoJ has so many pots on the Arpaio fire that I don't think they have fully addressed the federal harassment charges. I hope that the latest report will help them with the process.

The worst thing that will happen is that I will be disappointed.

LM K · **Posted:** Wed May 09, 2012 11:31 pm

After this latest ruling against Lisa Aubuchon, she would be an idiot to continue her appeal.

Lisa Aubuchon's Disbarment Stay Denied; "Staggering Mountain of Wrongdoing," Judge Writes

Quote:

A "staggering mountain of wrongdoing" by former county prosecutor Lisa Aubuchon was cited by a judge as one general reason to deny her request for stay of disbarment.

snip.....

The former deputy county attorney, who once reportedly told a sheriff's official to use "creative writing" in fashioning a bogus search warrant of county offices, has been working as a private-practice attorney since being fired in 2010. She'd asked the disciplinary panel to stay her disbarment until her appeals process could be exhausted.

In a ruling released today, Disciplinary Judge William O'Neil writes that Aubuchon is deceitful and demonstrated an "extensive pattern of unethical conduct." Letting her continue to practice law puts both the public and the legal profession at risk, says O'Neil.

snip.....

"We decline to ignore the staggering mountain of wrongdoing that we found," O'Neil writes. Aubuchon's "bad behavior did not merely tip the scales; it overturned them."

snip.....

Aubuchon's last day as a lawyer was today. Andrew Thomas is now working on a book.

jtmunkus · **Joined:** Mon May 23, 2011 7:33 pm **Posts:** 3490

LM K wrote:

After this latest ruling against Lisa Aubuchon, she would be an idiot to continue her appeal.
...
Aubuchon's last day as a lawyer was today. Andrew Thomas is now working on a book.

Now it's time for Joe to feel the full force of the United States Government bearing down on his dirty soul.

And I sure hope there will be indictments of Arpaio, Thomas, Aubuchon, Alexander, Hendershott and the lot of 'em. The little old colostomy clown sponsored by Grecian Formula 49 and 200,000 snowbirds needs to feel the icy steel of shackles burning rings around his even colder wrists and ankles.

Pink underwear my ass.

-xx

LM K · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2012 4:43 pm

Lisa Aubuchon Law License to be Yanked by July 2; No Stay While She Appeals Disbarment, Court Says

Quote:

Lisa Aubuchon's law license will be canceled officially as of July 2, the state Supreme Court ruled today.

snip.....

Unlike Thomas, Aubuchon is choosing to appeal the disbarment order. But she wanted to keep her law license active until the appeal process was exhausted.

snip.....

Her former lawyer from Montana, Ed Moriarity, withdrew his pro bono representation of Aubuchon last week, stating that his firm had spent in excess of $100,000 on her case and could afford no more.

snip.....

After today's smackdown, though, it seems less likely that the state Supreme Court, which will make the ultimate decision in her appeal, will rule in her favor.

Aubuchon and her husband owe the IRS over $40,000. It's the state's fault, according to Aubuchon:

Quote:

Former proseuctor Lisa Aubuchon and her husband, Peter Pestalozzi, owe $40,721 in federal taxes, records show.

snip.....

In a text message sent to New Times, Aubuchon states that "the tax debt was due to me being forced to cash out my retirement." :((

Aubuchon filed a $10 million notice of claim Aubuchon filed against the county in mid-2010 that alludes to her loss of earnings. She was demoted in May 2010, hit with a "pre-termination" letter that September and subsequently was fired.

Her claim turned into a federal lawsuit that was consolidated with other officials suing the county, including County Supervisors Mary Rose Wilcox and Don Stapley.

snip.....

Aubuchon's Notice of Claim:

Quote:

snip.....

Aubuchon says she's been fired from the County Attorney's office improperly, and as retaliation by Romley for attempting to prosecute the same county officials who appointed him to his current position. An investigation into her alleged abuses as a deputy county attorney, plus the public statements about her made by Romley and others, have hurt her mental health, slandered her, and shattered some friendships with co-workers, she claims.

snip.....

Aubuchon's claim targets another former Thomas aide, Phil MacDonnell, (also dismissed soon after Romley took office), the entire Board of Supervisors, County Manager David Smith and others. The claim takes on the feel of a diatribe at times as Aubuchon rehashes aspects of the cases against Supervisors Mary Rose Wilcox and Don Stapley, and her gut feeling that a conspiracy must be afloat permeates her explanation of the various conflicts of interest involved.

But Aubuchon's letter also -- inadvertently -- gives a critical reader a sense of schadenfreude. The double standard is astonishing. For instance, Aubuchon cries out that "professional decency" should prevent Romley from talking to the news media about allegations against her.

But, in following the plans of Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio's chief deputy, Dave Hendershott, did Aubuchon ever once stop to worry about professional decency? If she had, maybe Judge Gary Donahoe -- once the subject of a bogus criminal investigation led by Aubuchon -- wouldn't be filing a multi-million claim of his own against the county.

snip.....

Aubuchon's Letter of Claim is at the link.

Falsehoods unchallenged only fester and grow.

Andrew Thomas, Lisa Aubuchon disbarred

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