On Wednesday, November 23, 2022, the Supreme Court of the State of Florida ruled on the Uncontested Report of the Referee Accepting Consent Judgment in relation to charges for attorney discipline against Palm Beach Gardens attorney Mary Michele Hudson.

The case, titled The Florida Bar v. Mary Michele Hudson, was brought by the Florida Bar. Case number #SC22-743.

The charges cited Rules 4-1.1, 4-8.4(d), and 4-8.4(g) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, which state:

A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client.

A lawyer shall not engage in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.

A lawyer shall not fail to respond, in writing, to any official inquiry by bar counsel or a disciplinary agency, as defined elsewhere in these rules, when bar counsel or the agency is conducting an investigation into the lawyer’s conduct.

The Rules Regulating The Florida Bar can be found here.

The following are as alleged and summarized from the filing:

Hudson allegedly engaged in misconduct due to her lack of diligence and competence in representing a client in a family law matter. Hudson also failed to respond to both official bar inquiries and order to show cause issued by the Court.

The Report of Referee states:

‘At a hearing, the presiding judge said the following, among other things:

“The hearing is done. Out. Out now. I have had it, Ms. Hudson. You need to read the child support formula to determine what correct discovery you need. You are pissing your client’s money away doing these frivolous discovery matters and coming to court. You’re going to bankrupt your client based on your lack of knowledge about how to calculate child support and what discovery is relevant. Read Woodward versus Nerkery, memorize it and learn what discovery is relevant in a post-judgment matter.”

The Report of Referee continues:

On February 2, 2022, the Florida Supreme Court found respondent in contempt and suspended her, as well as requiring her to remain suspended until she fully responded to the bar’s official inquiry.”

The Report of Referee recommended that Respondent be found guilty of misconduct and that Hudson be disciplined by disbarment, to pay The Florida Bar’s costs, and for Hudson to eliminate all indicia as an attorney.

With the foregoing facts and discussions, the court ruled against Hudson in relation to the above-cited Rules of Professional Conduct

The Disposition reads:

“The uncontested report of the referee is approved and respondent is disbarred. Respondent is currently suspended; therefore this disbarment is effective immediately.”

Judgment is entered for The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300, for recovery of costs from Mary Michele Hudson in the amount of $1,695.90, for which sum let execution issue.”

Ms. Hudson had been licensed in Florida.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.