The National Forensic Council (C.N.F.) confirmed the four-year suspension of a lawyer, as set out in ruling no. 331 of 27 December 2023. This disciplinary action was initiated by the District Disciplinary Council of the Bologna Bar, following preliminary investigations conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The lawyer was accused of repeatedly supplying cocaine to her trainees, consuming it with them both inside and outside the law office. Furthermore, it was found that the training of the trainees was impaired, as their professional development was linked to the use of drugs. The trainees involved did not receive any remuneration or, in any case, adequate compensation for their work. Further evidence revealed that the lawyer had established relationships with some unidentified clients to obtain drugs, which negatively affected his professional relationships. Another significant aspect of the case concerns the lawyer’s role as a witness in a sham civil marriage, organised exclusively to allow one of the parties to obtain a residence permit and avoid deportation from Italy.
Evidence and testimonies
The testimonies of the trainees confirmed that the supply of cocaine was a regular practice within the lawyer’s law firm. One of the trainees gave a detailed account of the consumption of the substance, while it was also established that one of the firm’s clients involved in the sham marriage was the source of the lawyer’s cocaine. The District Disciplinary Council found the lawyer guilty of the alleged unlawful conduct and imposed a four-year suspension from professional practice. The National Bar Council, after examining the seriousness of the allegations and the evidence presented, upheld the decision, rejecting all appeals filed by the lawyer. The C.N.F.’s decision is based on Article 54 of Law No. 247 of 2012, which provides for the independence of disciplinary proceedings from criminal proceedings, allowing the continuation of the trial regardless of the outcome of the criminal trial.
JUDGEMENT
CNF_2023-331
