On Friday, January 13, 2023, the Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Supreme Court of Arizona ordered the 60-day suspension of Oregon attorney James R. Tschudy for ethical violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The case is styled as ‘In the Matter of a Member of the State Bar of Arizona, James R. Tschudy’ and was brought by the State Bar of Arizona, under case no. 22-2606-RC.
According to the filing, on August 23, 2022, Tschudy was suspended from the practice of law in Oregon. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge directed both the State Bar and Tschudy to file their respective memoranda, however, only the state bar responded.
Rule 57(b)(5) of the Arizona Rules of Supreme Court provides that “a final adjudication in another jurisdiction that a lawyer has been found guilty of misconduct shall establish conclusively the misconduct for purposes of a discipline proceed in this state.”
The filing states:
“The PDJ concurs with the State Bar’s analysis and finds no basis for declining to impose identical discipline in Arizona.”
The filing continues:
“The misconduct Respondent committed in Oregon would also warrant suspension in Arizona for violations of ER 1.3, ER 1.4, ER 1.5, and ER 1.15.”
The Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.
With the foregoing facts and discussions, the presiding disciplinary judge deemed it appropriate to impose identical discipline to that imposed in Oregon in relation to the above-cited Rules of Professional Conduct.
The Disposition reads:
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Respondent James R. Tschudy, Bar No. 027-39, is suspended from the practic eof law in Arizona for 60 days, effective immediately.”
Costs and expenses in the amount of $1,200.00 were also assessed against Tschudy.
Prior to the suspension, Mr. Tschudy practiced in Portland, Oregon. He has been admitted to the Arizona bar, license no. 027309, as well as in Oregon. His info can be found on Avvo.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
