In Re: Cynthia Ann Langston Sternberg

Supreme Court of Louisiana
October 04, 2022
Chief Deputy Clerk of Court
For the Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana
IN RE: CYNTHIA ANN LANGSTON
STERNBERG No. 2022-OB-00215
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IN R
E: Cynthia Ann Langston Sternberg - Applicant Other; Petition for Transfer to
Disability Inactive Status Pursuant to Rule XIX, Sec. 22;
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October 04, 2022
Petitioner transferred from interim disability inactive status to active status.
Petition for permanent resignation from the practice of law in lieu of discipline
granted. See per curiam.
PDG
JLW
SJC
JTG
WJC
JBM
10/04/2022 "See News Release 043 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

S
UPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO.
2022-OB-0215
I
N RE: CYNTHIA ANN LANGSTON STERNBERG
DI
SCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
PE
R CURIAM
T
he Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) filed two sets of formal charges
against respondent, Cynthia Ann Langston Sternberg . On February 1, 2022,
respondent filed a petition requesting that this court transfer her to disability inactive
status on the ground she was unable to assist in the defense of the pending
disciplinary charges. On February 2, 2022, we issued an order transferring
respondent to interim disability inactive status pending a hearing on her claim of
inability to defend these charges . Respondent did not appear at the scheduled
hearing. Finding respondent failed to satisfy her burden of proof, the hearing
committee recommended that respondent’s petition for disability inactive status be
denied and that she be returned to active status from interim disability inactive status.
Prior to action by this court on the recommendation, respondent supplemented
her earlier filing with a “Petition for Permanent Resignation from the Practice of
Law in Lieu of Discipline.” The ODC has concurred in the petition.
Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 20.1, a lawyer against whom formal
charges of misconduct have or may be filed can petition this court to resign
permanently from the practice of law in lieu of discipline. Section 20.1(A) requires
such petitions be accompanied by the lawyer’s affidavit of consent, which must
conform to the requirements set forth in the rule. The rule further requires that all
disciplinary costs incurred by the disciplinary board in the investigation and/or
proceedings associated therewith be paid in full.
10/04/22

2

A review of respondent’s petition indicates all these requirements have been
satisfied. In particular, respondent executed a sworn affidavit of consent, in which
she avers her request is “freely and voluntarily submitted,” that she is “not being
subjected to coercion or duress” and that she is “fully aware of the implications of
submitting this request for permanent resignation from the practice of law.”
Although respondent has previously raised questions over her ability to defend these
proceedings, we believe her sworn representations in the affidavit of consent as well
as the recommendation of the hearing committee that she be returned to active status
demonstrate she is competent to request that she be allowed to permanently resign
from the practice of law in lieu of discipline.
Accordingly, we will transfer respondent to active statu s and simultaneously
accept her petition for permanent resignation from the practice of law in lieu of
discipline.

DECREE
For the reasons assigned, it is ordered that Cynthia Ann Langston Sternberg,
also known as Cynthia Ann Langston, Louisiana Bar Roll number 20912, be
transferred from interim disability inactive status to active status, and that her
petition for permanent resignation in lieu of discipline is hereby granted. P ursuant
to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 20.1 and Rule 5.5 of the Rules of Profess ional
Conduct, she shall be permanently prohibited from practicing law in Louisiana or in
any other jurisdiction in which she is admitted to the practice of law; shall be
permanently prohibited from seeking readmission to the practice of law in this state
or in a ny other jurisdiction in which she is admitted; and shall be permanently
prohibited from seeking admission to the practice of law in any jurisdiction.