Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Golden

1. We must decide in this case how to appropriately sanction respondent, Shelby Diane Golden of Lima, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0039787, who violated a series of Disciplinary Rules while representing clients in eight different cases, failed to cooperate with relator, Disciplinary Counsel, in the investigation of her misconduct, and did not update her business address with the Office of Attorney Registration as required. The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, after finding that respondents debilitating clinical depression contributed significantly to her misconduct, recommended a sanction less severe than an indefinite suspension from the practice of law in Ohio. We agree that respondents depression is a mitigating influence sufficient to warrant rejection of the disbarrment recommended by relator. However, misconduct of this magnitude must be met with an indefinite suspension for the publics protection, and therefore we find this sanction appropriate.