On Friday, February 24, 2023, the Supreme Court of California suspended attorney Douglas Arthur Schenck for driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%. The case is entitled “In the matter of Douglas Arthur Schenck” with case no. S277909.
In an order dated August 31, 2017, it was stated that the respondent has been convicted of violating the vehicle code, driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving with a blood alcohol of 0.08%. The case was referred then to the hearing department under the authority of California Rules of Court for a hearing and decision to be imposed.
On November 1, 2022, in a decision and order sealing certain documents, it was reiterated that the respondent committed multiple acts of wrongdoing, misrepresented his consumption of alcohol to the police at the time of his arrest, and demonstrated indifference by failing to comply with the terms of his criminal probation. The State Bar recommended then that the respondent be suspended and be placed on probation with conditions such as; reviewing the rules of professional conduct, complying with the state bar act and probation conditions, maintaining valid official state bar record address and other required contracts, meeting and cooperate with office probation, submission of quarterly reports, attending ethics bar school, abstinence, and compliance with lawyer assistance program monitoring plan. Moreover, the respondent was also instructed to pass the multistate professional responsibility examination as part of the probation requirements.
The filing states:
“Failure to do so may result in suspension. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.100b)) If he provides satisfactory evidence of taking and passage of the above examination during his period of participation in the ADP, or after the date of the State Bar Court’s Decision in this ADP matter but before the effective date of the order imposing discipline in this matter, Douglas Arthur Schenck will nonetheless receive credit for such evidence toward his duty to comply with this requirement.”
Consistent with the recommendation, the court issued an order suspending the respondent from the practice of law.
The Disposition states:
“The court orders that Douglas Arthur Schenck (Respondent), State Bar Number 200699, is suspended from the practice of law in California for one year, execution of that period of suspension is stayed, and Respondent is placed on probation for two years subject to the following conditions:
1. Respondent must comply with the other conditions of probation recommended by the Hearing Department of the State Bar Court in its Decision filed on November 1, 2022; and
2. At the expiration of the period of probation, if Respondent has complied with the terms of probation, the period of stayed suspension will be satisfied and that suspension will be terminated.”
Mr. Schenck attended the Southwestern University School of Law, graduating in 1998. He practices in San Juan Capistrano, California. He is licensed in California. His info can be found on martindale.com.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
