On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the Circuit Court for the City of Portsmouth issued a public reprimand with terms against Virginia attorney Richard Joseph Davis, III.
The case is entitled “Virginia State Bar Ex Rel First District Committee v. Richard Joseph Davis, III,” with case no. CL24-2438-00.
The reprimand stems from a complaint filed in October 2023 by Madison Babe, whom Davis was appointed to represent in August 2023. According to agreements made by Davis and Virginia State Bar Assistant Counsel Seth Shelley, Davis sent Babe sexually suggestive text messages both during and after his representation of her. Davis also lied in his written response to the bar complaint and in a subsequent interview with a bar investigator about the nature of the texts.
In an Agreed Disposition endorsed by Davis, his attorney Mary Morgan, and the State Bar in August 2024, Davis acknowledged that his behavior toward Babe was inappropriate and that he could not interact with clients in that manner. He agreed that his actions constituted violations of rules regarding bar admission matters, misconduct, and dishonesty.
The Three-Judge Panel approved the agreed disposition on August 21, 2024, imposing a public reprimand along with terms requiring Davis to attend the Virginia State Bar’s Professionalism course within 12 months and refrain from further violations for two years. If Davis fails to comply with the terms, he faces a one-year suspension of his law license.
The Disposition states:
“It is ORDERED that the Circuit Court accepts the Agreed Disposition, and the Respondent shall receive a sanction of a Public Reprimand with Terms.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Davis III is a criminal defense attorney in Portsmouth, Virginia. He attended the Nova Southeastern University – Shepard Broad Law Center, graduating in 2001. He acquired his law license in Virginia in 2005.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
