On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the Supreme Court of Georgia removed attorney Johnbull Okechukwu Nwosu from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the state, following a disciplinary proceeding that found he violated multiple rules of professional conduct. Nwosu faced allegations of misconduct stemming from actions taken during a business dispute case in 2021.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Johnbull Okechukwu Nwosu,” with case no. S25Y0715.
The State Bar of Georgia filed a formal complaint against Nwosu in August 2023, charging him with violations of several Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, including making false statements to a court, offering false evidence, altering documents with potential evidentiary value, and engaging in dishonest conduct. The maximum penalty for most of these violations is disbarment.
According to the disciplinary proceedings, Nwosu represented clients in a breach of contract lawsuit filed in September 2021. He attached an undated contract to the complaint, marking it as “Plaintiff Exhibit A” and handwriting a date of March 26, 2016, on the document. When the defendants moved to dismiss the case, citing the statute of limitations, Nwosu submitted an amended motion with a different copy of the contract, this time labeled “Plaintiff Exhibit E” and dated May 12, 2019.
During a hearing on August 1, 2022, the trial court judge was alerted to the discrepancy between the two contract dates. Nwosu initially claimed the opposing party had written the May 12, 2019, date, but later admitted to making the alterations himself. The trial court dismissed the case and granted the defendants’ motion for attorney fees, citing the plaintiffs’ attempt to mislead the court by altering the contract date after the statute of limitations issue was raised.
In the disciplinary hearing, Nwosu acknowledged altering the contract by adding the dates, claiming he did so to clarify the execution date based on his client’s information and was unaware that altering documents was improper due to his inexperience with commercial disputes. However, the Special Master, Paul Wain Painter III, rejected these claims, finding that Nwosu intentionally altered the documents to deceive the court and benefit his client’s case. The Special Master noted Nwosu’s extensive courtroom experience, including over 30 years working with exhibits as both an attorney and a former investigator for the Division of Family and Children Services.
The Special Master concluded that Nwosu violated rules prohibiting false statements to a tribunal, offering false evidence, altering documents, and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. Applying the American Bar Association Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, the Special Master found that Nwosu’s actions violated a fundamental duty of attorneys, undermined the integrity of the judicial system, and risked a fraudulent judgment. Aggravating factors included a dishonest motive, while mitigating factors included Nwosu’s lack of personal financial gain, as he worked on a flat fee, and his good reputation, as evidenced by testimony from a Cobb Judicial Circuit judge and a character witness.
The State Disciplinary Review Board reviewed the Special Master’s report and suggested remanding the case for a more detailed analysis of aggravating and mitigating factors. However, the Supreme Court of Georgia disagreed, finding the Special Master’s analysis sufficient. The court rejected Nwosu’s arguments that his inexperience and remorse should mitigate the sanction, noting his competent courtroom experience and lack of credible explanation for the alterations.
The Supreme Court upheld the Special Master’s recommendation, ordering Nwosu’s disbarment and directing him to comply with Bar Rule 4-219 (b) regarding his duties post-disbarment.
The Disposition states:
“For these reasons, we conclude that disbarment is the appropriate sanction for Nwosu’s conduct and is consistent with the sanction imposed in similar cases. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the name of Johnbull Okechukwu Nwosu be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. Nwosu is reminded of his duties under Bar Rule 4-219 (b).
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Nwosu was an attorney in Marietta, Georgia. He acquired his law license in Georgia in 2014.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
