On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the Supreme Court of Louisiana accepted a joint petition for consent discipline suspending attorney Sophia Juliana Johnson.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Sophia Juliana Johnson,” with case no. 2023-B-01688.
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel had commenced an investigation into allegations that Ms. Johnson falsified an email to cover up her failure to timely disclose expert witnesses for clients, and made false statements in federal court filings.
Rather than face formal charges, Ms. Johnson and the ODC submitted an agreement where Ms. Johnson consented to discipline. Under the agreement accepted by the Court, Ms. Johnson will receive a suspension from practicing law for one year, retroactive to her interim suspension on October 12, 2023. She will also need to fulfill additional undisclosed conditions outlined in the petition.
Three Justices dissented from accepting the proposed discipline, finding the one-year suspension to be too lenient a punishment. The Court ordered Ms. Johnson to pay all costs related to the disciplinary proceedings.
The Disposition states:
“IT IS ORDERED that the Petition for Consent Discipline be accepted and that Sophia Juliana Johnson, Louisiana Bar Roll number 33205, be and she hereby is suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year, retroactive to October 12, 2023, the date of her interim suspension.”
According to avvo.com, Ms. Johnson is a personal injury attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended the Tulane University, graduating in 2010. She acquired her law license in Louisiana in the same year.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
