On Thursday, January 16, 2025, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommended denying the petition for readmission of attorney Jamar Brooks Akai Myers-Montgomery. This decision follows a lengthy process regarding his conditional admission to practice law, which was revoked in September 2020 due to non-compliance with court-ordered child support obligations.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Jamar Brooks Akai Myers-Montgomery,” with case no. 23-DB-072.
Myers-Montgomery was initially conditionally admitted to the Louisiana Bar on February 8, 2019, for a two-year period under specific conditions. These included requirements to provide evidence of fulfilling his child support commitments, entering a payment plan for any arrears, and demonstrating a good faith effort to meet financial obligations. The Louisiana Supreme Court mandated that his conditional admission could not be terminated until further orders were issued.
Despite these stipulations, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) reported that Myers-Montgomery failed to adhere to the agreed conditions, leading to the revocation of his admission in 2020. Following this revocation, he attempted to apply for readmission directly to the court in 2022, but his application was denied. The court ruled that he could not reapply until he fully complied with his child support orders and all requirements of Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, Section 24.
In December 2023, Myers-Montgomery submitted a new petition for reinstatement. The ODC responded with opposition, prompting a hearing on June 11, 2024. During this hearing, both Myers-Montgomery and the ODC presented evidence. Testimonies were provided by various witnesses, including the mother of his child and an expert forensic auditor.
The Hearing Committee, tasked with evaluating Myers-Montgomery’s petition, issued its report on August 26, 2024. It unanimously recommended that his request for reinstatement be denied, citing several failures to meet the criteria outlined in Rule XIX, Section 24. The committee noted that Myers-Montgomery had not fully complied with the terms of prior disciplinary orders and had engaged in unauthorized practice of law after his revocation.
The committee’s findings highlighted that while Myers-Montgomery made some payments towards his child support obligations, he failed to address significant arrears and did not provide truthful information regarding his financial circumstances to the court in California. As per the committee’s investigation, his outstanding child support arrears had grown significantly, totaling over $86,000.
Moreover, the committee found that Myers-Montgomery had misrepresented himself in various professional contexts, continuing to present himself as an attorney despite not being licensed to practice law following his revocation. This included online advertisements and submissions where he referred to himself as a lawyer and offered legal services.
In its detailed report, the Hearing Committee outlined additional findings regarding his financial obligations, including unpaid taxes to both the State of Louisiana and the IRS. They noted that he had failed to file timely tax returns for multiple years and had substantial debts with various creditors, raising concerns about his honesty and integrity necessary for practicing law.
The committee concluded that Myers-Montgomery did not recognize the seriousness of his past misconduct and exhibited a lack of accountability. His failure to adequately address his financial and legal obligations was deemed incompatible with the standards expected of a practicing attorney.
In light of these findings, the Hearing Committee recommended that Myers-Montgomery be prohibited from reapplying for readmission for three years. They suggested that any future application should be contingent upon meeting stringent requirements, including retaking the Louisiana Bar Exam and demonstrating a genuine effort to settle all outstanding debts and fulfill child support obligations.
The recommendation states:
“Considering the above, the Board recommends that Petitioner’s petition for readmission be denied. The Board further recommends that Petitioner be assessed with all costs of these proceedings.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Myers-Montgomery is a lawyer in Shreveport, Louisiana. He acquired his law license in Louisiana in 2019.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
