On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of Georgia ordered the disbarment of attorney Melvin Raines. The decision follows a review of the State Disciplinary Review Board’s report, which agreed with the recommendation of Special Master Patrick E. Longan. Raines’s disbarment stems from violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct (GRPC) in connection with three separate client matters.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Melvin Raines, II,” with case no. S25Y1146.
The State Bar filed three formal complaints against Raines on April 25, 2024, citing violations of Rules 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.15(I)(a), 1.15(II)(b), 3.2, and 8.4(a)(4). These rules cover a range of professional responsibilities, including abiding by client decisions, acting with diligence and promptness, maintaining client communication, properly handling client funds, expediting litigation, and avoiding dishonest conduct.
Raines failed to file timely answers to the complaints, leading the Special Master to grant a motion for default. An aggravation and mitigation hearing was subsequently held, after which the Special Master submitted his report recommending disbarment.
The case SDBD No. 7774 involved a mother who retained Raines in December 2020 to represent her son in a criminal matter. After the son was indicted in September 2021, Raines told the mother that a plea deal requiring a $5,000 fine was in the works and instructed her to provide him with a cashier’s check. The mother gave Raines the check on March 9, 2022, and he deposited it into his IOLTA account, subsequently using the funds for personal expenses. By the end of May 2022, the account balance was reduced to $7.96.
The son’s guilty plea did not result in a fine, and he was sentenced to two years in confinement. Raines falsely claimed to the mother that he had given the $5,000 to the superior court clerk, and he only returned the money in cash on September 3, 2022, after the mother filed a grievance with the State Bar.
The case SDBD No. 7775 arose in 2021 when Raines represented a client in a criminal case. Raines failed to appear at a scheduled status conference on December 1, 2022, providing a notice of conflict that was dated more than a month prior. As a result, the court scheduled a contempt hearing for Raines, and on December 6, 2022, all three superior court judges of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit ordered his removal from pending cases due to repeated failures to appear. Raines was found in contempt on December 22, 2022, with the court noting this was his fourth contempt hearing related to attendance and notice issues.
The case SDBD No. 7776 began on March 19, 2021, when Raines was appointed to represent a client in a criminal matter. Despite being appointed, Raines did not enter an appearance until March 23, 2022, shortly before the trial was set to begin. The State filed a motion to continue due to Raines not having inspected and copied discovery; Raines not having visited with the client based on jail records; and the State being unable to reach him to coordinate inspection and copying of the State’s file.
On November 18, 2022, the client filed a pro se motion to remove Raines as counsel, citing a lack of communication. Ultimately, Raines was removed from the case, having failed to communicate with the client, respond to requests for information, file anything on the client’s behalf, or prepare for trial.
The Special Master determined that Raines’s actions violated multiple rules. These included misappropriating client funds, failing to maintain proper trust account procedures, neglecting client matters, failing to communicate with clients, and engaging in dishonest conduct.
The Special Master considered ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, noting Raines violated duties to preserve client property, candor, diligence, consultation, communication, and personal integrity. Aggravating factors included dishonest motives, multiple offenses, vulnerable victims, and substantial experience in law practice.
Mitigating factors included no prior disciplinary record and a cooperative attitude. The Review Board agreed with the Special Master’s findings and recommendation of disbarment.
The Supreme Court of Georgia concurred, ordering Raines’s disbarment.
The Disposition states:
“Accordingly, it is ordered that the name of Melvin Raines, II, be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia.”
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Raines II was a criminal defense attorney in Macon, Georgia. He attended Florida International University, graduating in 2005. He acquired his law license in Georgia in 2006.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
