NOTICE OF REPRIMANDS WITH CONDITIONS Case Nos. 92-297-GA; 92-317-GA J. Richard Colbeck, P-12036, Coldwater, Michigan, by Attorney Discipline Board Calhoun County Hearing Panel.
1) Two Reprimands; 2) Effective May 7, 1993. Formal Complaint 92-297-GA: Respondent was appointed to represent a defendant in the appeal of his criminal conviction. The hearing panel found that respondent failed to file an appellate brief on his client's behalf; failed to keep his client reasonably informed concerning the status of the appeal, or to advise him of any reason for his failure to prosecute the appeal; and failed to interview his client in person on at least one occasion during the initial stages of the representation.
Formal Complaint 92-317-GA: Respondent was appointed to represent another defendant in the appeal of his criminal conviction. The hearing panel found that respondent failed to file a timely appellate brief on his client's behalf.
Respondent's conduct was found to be in violation of MCR 9.104 (1-4); the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.1(c); 1.3; 1.4(a,b); 3.2; 8.4(a,c); and Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order 1981-7, Standards 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 15, 17.
The panel concluded that respondent should receive two reprimands, one for each finding of misconduct, with conditions relevant to his representation of indigent clients in appointed criminal appeals. Costs were assessed in the amount of $534.79.