On Friday, December 27, 2024, the Supreme Court of Kansas issued a ruling in the case against attorney Alejandro J. Solorio, imposing a one-year suspension of his law license, which will be stayed after 90 days contingent upon successful completion of a nine-month probation period. This decision followed a disciplinary process initiated by the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator (ODA) that alleged multiple violations of the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct (KRPC).
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Alejandro J. Solorio,” with case no. 128,062.
The charges cited Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, and 8.4(c).
Alejandro J. Solorio was found to have committed serious breaches of professional conduct. The formal complaint filed by the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator (ODA) included allegations of incompetence, lack of diligence, poor communication, and dishonesty related to his representation of clients A.E. and J.E., a married couple seeking immigration status.
The Supreme Court’s opinion outlined a series of events dating back to 2009 when A.E. and J.E. first hired Solorio to assist with their applications for U nonimmigrant status. This status, which is valid for four years, allows individuals to apply for lawful permanent resident status under specific circumstances. However, Solorio failed to file an adjustment application on their behalf before the expiration of their U status in July 2014.
Despite acknowledging that he missed the deadline, Solorio did not take the necessary steps to inform his clients of the denial of their adjustment requests after they were submitted late. Consequently, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied their applications in February 2015 due to their lack of valid status at the time of filing.
Throughout the period from 2015 to 2022, Solorio continued to assure A.E. and J.E. that he was actively working on their cases, despite having taken no further action. He misrepresented the status of their applications and failed to communicate the reasons for their initial denials, which included his late filings.
In June 2022, A.E. and J.E. filed complaints against Solorio, prompting the ODA to investigate the matter. During the subsequent hearings, the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys found that Solorio had indeed violated multiple provisions of the KRPC.
The hearing panel emphasized that Solorio’s actions had severely impacted A.E. and J.E.’s ability to maintain their legal status in the United States. After hiring new counsel in 2022, the couple learned the full extent of Solorio’s neglect and the reasons for their denied applications.
The hearing panel recommended disciplinary actions considering several factors, including the vulnerability of A.E. and J.E. as clients, the pattern of misconduct demonstrated by Solorio, and his substantial experience in the legal field, which made his failures more egregious. However, they also noted mitigating factors, such as the absence of a prior disciplinary record and Solorio’s expression of remorse for his actions.
In recommending a one-year suspension, the disciplinary administrator argued for a stricter penalty due to the significant injury caused to A.E. and J.E. The Supreme Court ultimately agreed with this recommendation, emphasizing the importance of protecting the public interest and maintaining the integrity of the legal profession.
The Disposition states:
“We conclude the appropriate discipline is that the respondent be suspended for a period of one year. After the respondent has served 90 days of the suspension, the respondent will be placed on probation for the remaining 9 months, subject to the terms and conditions of the amended probation plan. No reinstatement hearing is required upon successful completion of probation.”
According to the filing, Mr. Solorio acquired his law license in Kansas in 2000.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
