On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, the Supreme Court of Louisiana revoked attorney Michelle Andrica Charles’s probation and enforced the deferred portion of a nine-month suspension. This decision was made following a disciplinary hearing concerning Charles’s failure to comply with probation conditions established in an earlier case.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Michelle Andrica Charles,” with case no. 2024-B-01263.
The case arose from a motion filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), which accused Charles of violating the terms of her probation stemming from a previous suspension. In that earlier ruling, Charles had been suspended due to multiple infractions, including failing to file her state income tax return and engaging in unprofessional conduct toward a client.
According to court documents, Charles was initially suspended for nine months, with six months deferred. Following her suspension, she was reinstated to practice law in August 2022. The current motion to revoke Charles’s probation was prompted by allegations that she had engaged in ethical misconduct during her probationary period, including a specific incident involving a criminal trial in which she represented a client named Quanittia Dennis. The trial was set for October 25, 2022, but Charles failed to appear, leading to her being found in constructive contempt of court. Witnesses, including her client, testified that Charles had requested that her client terminate their legal representation just days before the trial, which the client refused.
The ODC presented evidence during the October 3, 2024 hearing, indicating that Charles had not only neglected her trial duties but had also failed to keep up with the financial obligations related to her disciplinary costs. Charles admitted during the hearing that she was behind on payments and cited personal hardships that affected her financial situation. She had not sought assistance or taken steps to rectify her payment issues.
The disciplinary board, after reviewing the evidence and hearing testimonies, concluded that Charles’s actions constituted a violation of several rules governing attorney conduct, including failure to provide competent representation and a lack of diligence in representing her client. These findings were critical in the board’s recommendation to revoke her probation.
The board’s recommendation was ultimately accepted by the Supreme Court, which ordered the immediate enforcement of the previously deferred portion of the suspension. In addition, all costs and expenses related to the disciplinary proceedings were assessed against Charles, with legal interest accruing thirty days following the final ruling.
The Disposition states:
“For the reasons assigned, the respondent’s probation is revoked and the deferred portion of the nine-month suspension imposed in In re: Charles, 21-1853 (La.5/13/22), 340 So. 3d 901, is hereby made immediately executory.”
According to avvo.com, Ms. Charles is an attorney in Metairie, Louisiana. She acquired her law license in Louisiana in 2007.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
