Denver attorney is barred from practicing law for one year after multiple arrests

Robert Corry admitted to violating 13 rules of professional conduct

By Shelly Bradbury

A Denver attorney who was arrested at least four times in 2019 was suspended Friday from practicing law for one year and one day.

Robert Corry admitted to violating 13 rules of professional conduct and was suspended by Presiding Disciplinary Judge William Lucero.

The prominent Denver attorney and legal marijuana proponent was disciplined for committing a criminal act that reflected poorly on his fitness to be a lawyer, for charging unreasonable fees, mishandling client funds or property, failing to promptly and effectively communicate with clients and representing clients despite conflicts of interest, among other professional violations, according to the judge’s order.

Corry declined to comment on the suspension Monday.

Corry was arrested four times between June and October 2019 and faced allegations including violating a restraining order, driving under the influence, committing domestic violence and threatening people in public with a sword.

In 2013, Corry was arrested for smoking marijuana at a Rockies game and smashing the window of a recreational vehicle.

Corry was among the most prominent marijuana attorneys in the state, helping to draft Colorado’s successful marijuana-legalization ballot initiative and representing marijuana advocates in several significant legal victories.

He will have 14 days to notify his clients of the suspension, which began Friday, according to the order.

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Denver attorney is barred from practicing law for one year after multiple arrests

Orlando attorney loses law license after mishandling clients' money, investigation says

ORLANDO, Fla. - An investigation into a disbarred Orlando attorney provides new details on where his client’s money went.

Jonathan Simon, 35, had his license to practice law revoked in December after investigators for the Florida Bar found he had used “client trust funds for purposes other than for the specific purpose they were intended,” according to disciplinary documents.

"Disciplinary revocation is tantamount to disbarment," the Florida Supreme Court order states. 

In June and July of last year, Simon’s firm of 21 family law attorneys began falling apart after his colleagues uncovered serious discrepancies in a trust account that was supposed to be carefully monitored.

By October, Simon was giving sworn testimony to a Florida Bar investigator and his clients could not get in touch with him.

“I feel helpless and kind of angry. I have to start all over,” said William Read, one of Simon’s former clients.

Read said he gave Simon nearly $5,000 to represent him, but he hasn’t seen that money again.

“It kind of wrecks your faith in the legal system. This guy came highly recommended,” he said.

During the bar investigation, records show Simon said he discovered $68,000 missing from an account that was only to be used for specific clients’ cases.

Read believes his money was part of the missing $68,000.

Simon said he took out a loan to pay clients back, but Read said he was never paid back.

“Basically, I had to hire another attorney, start all over again,” he said.

Simon told the investigator that at one point, he took $144,000 of clients’ money to keep his practice afloat.

Simon’s license to practice law was revoked within six months of the time his clients’ money was discovered missing. 

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Orlando attorney loses law license after mishandling clients' money, investigation says

Clinton lawyer pleads guilty to drug charge

CLINTON – Clinton lawyer Dodie Junkert pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony drug conspiracy charges.

The plea came as a bench trial was set to begin on nine drug charges against the 51-year-old attorney related to a 2013 police investigation into cocaine sales in Central Illinois.

The plea deal that resulted in dismissal of the other eight counts was reached after a meeting Tuesday between Junkert, her attorneys and two lawyers with the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Junkert pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance near a school.

In a statement given to Judge Dan Flannel by Assistant Attorney General John Kezdy to support the drug trafficking charge, Junkert was accused of going to the home of Mary Smith to obtain cocaine for herself and another woman. The location of the drug transaction was less than 100 feet from a Clinton elementary school, Kezdy noted.

Junkert faces a sentence ranging from probation to seven years in prison when she is sentenced Nov. 20. No sentence is specified under the plea deal.

In comments to Junkert, the judge explained the potential penalties for the offense and asked several times if she understood the terms of her plea. Junkert affirmed that she understood the consequences of her admission to a drug crime.

Kezdy asked the judge to inform Junkert that she also faces potential discipline from the Illinois Attorney Registration Disciplinary Commission, including loss of her law license.

Defense lawyer James Brinkoetter responded that Junkert "is fully aware of her responsibility to report this conviction to the ARDC."

Earlier this year, Junkert was suspended from practicing law for one year by the ARDC for mishandling client funds.

The commission said Junkert, who was licensed to practice law in Illinois in 1998, failed to deposit client funds into a trust account to cover anticipated legal expenses. The lawyer also failed to prepare and maintain ledgers and other records related to client funds, the ARDC said.

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Clinton lawyer pleads guilty to drug charge