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Dean W. Hamilton (WSBA No. 19416, admitted 1990) of Tacoma, was suspended for 18 months, by order of the Supreme Court approving a stipulation. Based on the circumstances in this case, the Court ordered the suspension to begin retroactively, on December 10, 2001. The discipline was based on his 2000 conviction for Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
In May 1999, Mr. Hamilton voluntarily transferred his license to practice law to inactive status. In 2000, Mr. Hamilton’s license to practice law was suspended for failure to pay licensing fees. On May 19, 2000, Mr. Hamilton entered an Alford Plea to one count of Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, a felony. In November 2001, Mr. Hamilton submitted an application to transfer from suspended to inactive status. In that application, he disclosed his felony conviction. Mr. Hamilton’s application to change his status was denied. He completed his sentence in June 2002.
Mr. Hamilton’s conduct violated RPC 8.4(b), prohibiting lawyers from committing criminal acts that reflect adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.
Leslie Allen represented the Association. Mr. Hamilton represented himself.
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