On Monday, September 18, 2023, the Supreme Court of Florida suspended attorney Christopher Whittington Dudley from practicing law for pleading nolo contendere to charges of attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling and criminal mischief.
The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v Christopher Whittington Dudley,” with case no. SC2023-1306.
The Florida Bar filed a Notice of Determination or Judgment of Guilt with the Supreme Court of Florida, charging Christopher Whitington Dudley, a member of The Florida Bar, with violating Rule 4-8.4(b) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. This rule states that a lawyer shall not commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.
The Notice of Determination or Judgment of Guilt stems from Dudley’s plea of nolo contendere to charges of Attempted Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, a third-degree felony, and Criminal Mischief, a first-degree misdemeanor, on August 29, 2023, in State v. Dudley, Case Number 2023-300677-CFDB. Pursuant to the Judgment and Sentence and the Order of Probation filed on September 8, 2023, the court withheld adjudication of guilt as to all counts and sentenced Dudley to two years of conditional probation as to the felony count and to credit for time served as to the misdemeanor count. The sentence is to run concurrently with any active sentence being served.
The Florida Bar respectfully requested that the Supreme Court enter an order:
- Finding Dudley guilty of violating Rule 4-8.4(b) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar;
- Suspending Dudley pursuant to Rule 3-7.2(f), Rules of Discipline of The Florida Bar;
- Ordering Dudley to furnish a copy of the suspension order to all clients, opposing counsel, and courts before which he is counsel of record as required by Rule 3-5.1(h) of the Rules of Discipline of The Florida Bar and to furnish staff counsel with the requisite affidavit listing all clients, counsel, and courts so informed within 30 days after receipt of the Court’s order; and
- Appointing or directing the appointment of a referee to conduct a hearing on sanctions pursuant to Rule 3-7.2(h), Rules of Discipline of The Florida Bar.
The Supreme Court of Florida accepted the notice of determination or judgment of guilt and ordered Dudley’s suspension from practicing law, effective 30 days from the date of the order. Dudley was ordered to comply with Rule 3-5.1(h) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar and to accept no new business until he is reinstated. The matter has been referred to the Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit for the appointment of a referee to conduct a hearing on sanctions.
The Disposition states:
“The Florida Bar having filed on September 18, 2023, Notice of Determination or Judgment of Guilt, it is ordered that Christopher Whittington Dudley is suspended from The Florida Bar pursuant to 3-7.2(f) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.”
Prior to the suspension, Mr. Dudley practiced in Maitland, Florida. He acquired his law license in Florida in 2022. His info can be found on avvo.com.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
