On Thursday, October 2, 2025, the Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Supreme Court of Colorado approved a stipulation for disciplinary action against attorney William Ellery Peters. Peters, whose attorney registration number is 11325, will face a one-year and one-day suspension; however, the suspension will be stayed pending successful completion of a two-year probation period, effective the same day.
The case is entitled “People v. William Ellery Peters,” with case no. 24PDJ095.
The disciplinary action stems from events beginning in November 2021, when Peters represented a client on misdemeanor and traffic charges related to driving under the influence. After the charges were dismissed and refiled as felonies in April 2022, Peters entered into a new fee agreement with the client, receiving $4,500.00 for representation in the felony matter, which he deposited into his firm’s trust account.
In August 2022, another lawyer substituted as counsel for the client. Peters, believing the subsequent counsel had earned the fees, attempted to pay them in two installments. He issued a $2,000.00 check from his firm’s operating account and a $2,500.00 check to “Pep Boys” on behalf of the subsequent counsel.
While the $2,000.00 check was deposited, the Pep Boys check was never cashed. Peters then transferred the $4,500.00 from his trust account to his operating account. The $2,500.00 remained in the firm’s operating account until September 15, 2025, when Peters returned the funds to the trust account. This delay in returning the unearned portion of the fees led to disciplinary action for violating Colorado. RPC 1.15A(a), which requires lawyers to segregate and safeguard client property.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
