In Re: Gerald F. Palmer

Supreme Court of Louisiana
January 24, 2024
Chief Deputy Clerk of Court
For the Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana
IN RE: GERALD F. PALMER
No. 2023-OB-01545
_ _
_ _ _ _
I
N RE: Gerald F. Palmer - Applicant Other; Office of Disciplinary Counsel -
Applicant Other; Findings and Recommendations (Readmission);
_ _ _ _ _ _
January 24, 2024
Readmission granted. See per curiam.
Crichton, J., concurs in part, dissents in part, and assigns reasons.
Crain, J., dissents.
PDG
JLW
JDH
JTG
JBM
01/24/2024 "See News Release 004 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

S
UPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 20
23-OB-1545
I
N RE: GERALD F. PALMER
ON AP
PLICATION FOR READMISSION
P
ER CURIAM
T
his proceeding arises out of an application for readmission to the practice of
law filed by petitioner, Gerald F. Palmer, also known as Jerry F. Palmer, a disbarred
attorney.
U
NDERLYING FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In 1993, petitioner pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to defraud
insurance companies and their investors. In January 1999, soon after petitioner’s
guilty plea was unsealed following years of cooperation with federal prosecutors ,
petitioner notified the Office of D isciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) of his misconduct
and requested that disciplinary proceedings commence. Petitioner and the ODC then
filed a motion in this court, requesting that he be placed on interim suspension. On
May 26, 1999, we granted the motion and suspended petitioner on an interim basis.
In re: Palmer, 99 -1395 (La. 5/26/99), 736 So. 2d 162. Thereafter, the ODC filed
formal charges against petitioner. After considering the formal charges, we
disbarred petitioner, retroactive to the date of his interim suspension. In re: Palmer,
02-1780 (La. 12/4/02), 835 So. 2d 410.
In May 202 3, p etitioner filed an application for r eadmission with the
disciplinary board, alleging he has complied with the readmission criteria set forth
in Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 24(E). The ODC took no position regarding the
01/24/24

2

application for readmission . Accordingly, the matter was referred for a formal
hearing before a hearing committee.
Following the hearing, the committee recommended that petitioner be
readmitted to the practice of law. Neither petitioner nor the ODC obje cted to the
committee’s recommendation.

DISCUSSION
After considering the record in its entirety, we find there is clear and
convincing evidence of petitioner’ s compliance with the readmission criteria.
Accordingly, we will adopt the hearing committee’s recommendation and readmit
petitioner to the practice of law.

DECREE
Upon review of the recommendation of the hearing committee, and
considering the record, it is ordered that Gerald F. Palmer, also known as Jerry F.
Palmer, Louisiana Bar Roll number 14290, be immediately readmitted to the
practice of law in Louisiana . All costs of these proceedings a re assessed against
petitioner.