On Thursday, October 5, 2023, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department granted attorney Benecia Betton Moore concurrent relief from suspension and approval to end her legal career. Moore had applied for reinstatement from suspension due to registration lapses while simultaneously tendering her resignation from practicing law. In one motion, the court lifted her suspension and accepted her non-disciplinary resignation request.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Benecia Betton Moore,” with case no. PM-230-23.
Moore was suspended in May 2019 and cured her registration delinquency in April 2023. She then applied for reinstatement and simultaneously applied to resign for non-disciplinary reasons which the court accepted as well.
The Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department opposed Moore’s motion based on her failure to submit an affidavit of compliance and complete certain required continuing legal education (CLE) credits. However, the court found that Moore had satisfied the substantive showing required for her reinstatement. She had attested to her compliance with the suspension order in all respects and had not engaged in the practice of law in New York, accepted new retainers, or represented any legal clients.
The court also found that Moore’s reinstatement was in the public interest. She had completed 54.25 credit hours in the category of “General Hours” for courses in topics including mediation, evidence, discovery, and family law, as well as three credit hours in the category of “Ethics Hours.” These courses were found to “generally apply to the practice of law in New York” and met the requirement for her reinstatement.
Accordingly, the court granted Moore’s motion for reinstatement and simultaneous application for non-disciplinary resignation. Her name was stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law of the State of New York, effective immediately. Moore was commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form in the State of New York and was forbidden to appear as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission, or other public authority.
The Dispositon states:
“ORDERED that respondent’s motion for reinstatement is granted, and it is further ORDERED that the respondent be reinstated as an attorney and counselor-at-law, effective immediately. ORDERED that the respondent’s application for leave to resign is simultaneously granted and her nondisciplinary resignation is accepted.”
According to avvo.com, Ms. Moore is a litigation attorney in Little Rock, Arizona. She attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She acquired her law license in New York in 2004.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
