On Thursday, August 24, 2023, the Supreme Court of Kentucky suspended attorney Robert Brian Ouseley for his criminal action involving a second-degree burglary.

The case is entitled “Robert Brian Ousley v. Kentucky Bar Association” with case no. 2023-SC-0186-KB.

The Supreme Court of Kentucky had issued an opinion and order regarding attorney Robert Brian Ousley’s request for a negotiated five-year suspension from the practice of law. The case involved Ousley’s admission of having violated SCR 3.130(8.4)(b) through his criminal actions, specifically an amended charge of second-degree burglary to which he had pleaded guilty.

Ousley’s suspension had been applied retroactively to October 28, 2021, following his automatic suspension due to his felony conviction. The Kentucky Bar Association had not objected to Ousley’s motion for negotiated sanction, which had been granted by the Court.

The negotiated sanction, which had been agreed upon by Ousley and Bar Counsel, had entailed a five-year suspension with conditions. These conditions included Ousley’s participation in the Kentucky Lawyer Assistance Program (KYLAP) on terms set by KYLAP, submission of quarterly compliance reports to the Office of Bar Counsel during the three-year KYLAP contract term, and no engagement in new criminal or disciplinary charges during the suspension period. Ousley’s disciplinary history and criminal record had been considered in light of similar cases, such as “Adams v. Kentucky Bar Ass’n” (2021), where negotiated sanctions had been accepted. Although Ousley’s history had involved multiple criminal convictions, his cooperation in the disciplinary process, commitment to sobriety, completion of substance abuse treatment, and execution of a KYLAP agreement had factored into the decision.

It had been emphasized that violation of these conditions could result in the revocation of the suspension and move for permanent disbarment.

The Disposition states:

“Ousley is suspended from the practice of law for five years — retroactive to October 28, 2021, with such suspension conditioned on his participation in KYLAP on such terms and conditions as set 5 by KYLAP; provision of quarterly compliance reports to the OBC; and that he receives no new criminal charges during the period of suspension.”

According to martindale.com, Mr. Ousley is the owner of the Ousley Law Office. Prior to the suspension, he practiced in Henderson, Kentucky. He acquired his law license in Kentucky in 2006.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.