Edwards V. State Bar Of California

The Review Department of the State Bar Court (review department) has recommended that petitioner John H. Edwards III be suspended from the practice of law in California for three years, that execution of the suspension order be stayed, and that he be placed on probation for three years upon conditions that include actual suspension from the practice of law for two years. The recommendation is based on uncontested evidence that petitioner commingled personal and client funds in a trust account and that on at least one occasion petitioner misappropriated a client's settlement funds   from the account. Petitioner contends that the recommended discipline is excessive and that the review department seeks to impose discipline for misconduct that was never charged.