In Re: Richard L. Reynolds

Supreme Court of Louisiana
January 26, 2022
Chief Deputy Clerk of Court
For the Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana
IN RE: RICHARD L. REYNOLDS
No. 2021-B-01638
_ _
_ _ _ _
I
N RE: Disciplinary Counsel - Applicant Other; Notice of Discipline in Another
Jurisdiction Pursuant to Rule XIX, Section 21 and Motion to Initiate Reciprocal
Discipline Proceedings;
_ _ _ _ _ _
January 26, 2022
Reciprocal discipline imposed. See per curiam.
JDH
JLW
SJC
JTG
WJC
JBM
PDG
01/26/2022 "See News Release 004 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 20
21-B-1638
I
N RE: RICHARD L. REYNOLDS
AT
TORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING
P
ER CURIAM
T
his matter arises from a Petition to Initiate Reciprocal Discipline
Proceedings filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) against
respondent, Richard L. Reynolds,1 an attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana,
based upon discipline imposed by the Supreme Court of Mississippi.
UNDE
RLYING FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On December 10, 2020, respondent pleaded guilty in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Texas to one count of misprision of felony arising
out of a bribery scheme . Respondent served a sentence of six months and was
ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $25,000. On September 23, 2021, the Supreme
Court of Mississippi issued an order disbarring respondent based upon his plea of
guilty to a felony.
After receiving notice of the Mississippi order of discipline, the ODC filed a
motion to initiate reciprocal discipline proceedings in Louisiana, pursuant to
Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 21. A certified copy of the decision issued by the
Supreme Court of Mississippi was attached to the motion. On November 16, 2021,
this court rendered an order giving respondent thirty days to demonstrate why the
1 Respondent is also a member of the Mississippi Bar, the Texas Bar, and the Tennessee Bar. On
December 22, 2020, respondent was placed on interim suspension in Louisiana based upon his
conviction of a serious crime. In re: Reynolds, 20-1340 (La. 12/22/20), 307 So. 3d 186.
01/26/22

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imposition of identical discipline in this state would be unwarranted. Respondent
failed to file any response in this court.

DISCUSSION
The standard for imposition of discipline on a reciprocal basis is set forth in
Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 21(D). That rule provides:
Discipline to be Imposed. Upon the expiration of thirty
days from service of the notice pursuant to the provisions
of paragraph B, this court shall impose the identical
discipline … unless disciplinary counsel or the lawyer
demonstrates, or this court finds that it clearly appears
upon the face of the record f rom which the discipline is
predicated, that:

(1) The procedure was so lacking in notice or opportunity
to be heard as to constitute a deprivation of due
process; or
(2) Based on the record created by the jurisdiction that
imposed the discipline, there was such i nfirmity of
proof establishing the misconduct as to give rise to the
clear conviction that the court could not, consistent
with its duty, accept as final the conclusion on that
subject; or
(3) The imposition of the same discipline by the court
would result in grave injustice or be offensive to the
public policy of the jurisdiction; or
(4) The misconduct established warrants substantially
different discipline in this state; …

If this court determines that any of those elements exists,
this court shall enter such ot her order as it deems
appropriate. The burden is on the party seeking different
discipline in this jurisdiction to demonstrate that the
imposition of the same discipline is not appropriate.

In the instant case, respondent has made no showing of infirmities in the
Mississippi proceeding, nor do we discern any from our review of the record.
Furthermore, we feel there is no reason to deviate from the sanction imposed in
Mississippi, as only under extraordinary circumstances should there be a
significant variance from the sanction imposed by the other jurisdiction. In re:
Aulston, 05-1546 (La. 1/13/06), 918 So. 2d 461. See also In re Zdravkovich, 831 A.

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2d 964, 968-69 (D.C. 2003) (“there is merit in according deference, for its own sake,
to the actions of other jurisdictions with respect to the attorneys over whom we share
supervisory authority”).
Under these circumstances, it is appropriate to defer to the Mississipp i
judgment imposing discipline upon respondent. Accordin gly, we will impose
reciprocal discipline in the form of disbarment.

DECREE
Considering the Petition to Initiate Reciprocal Discipline Proceedings filed by
the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the record filed herein, it is ordered that
respondent, Richard L. Reynolds, Louisiana Bar Roll number 11206, be and he
hereby is disbarred. His name shall be stricken f rom the roll of attorneys, and h is
license to practice law in the State of Louisiana shall be revoked.