Judith Anne Finch was admitted to the California Bar 3rd December 1984, but has since been disbarred. Judith graduated from John F Kennedy University SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Judith Anne Finch |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 3 December 1984 (39 years, 5 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 114851 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | 925-946-0249 |
Schools
| Law School | John F Kennedy University SOL (Orinda CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | Marquette University (Milwaukee WI) |
Address
| Current Address | 1752 Crescent Dr Walnut Creek, CA 94598 |
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| Map |
History
| 13 May 2007 | Disbarred (16 years, 11 months ago) Disbarment 06-O-12794 |
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| 23 November 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 5 months ago) Ordered inactive 06-O-12794 |
| 26 October 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 6 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 04-O-12774 |
| 18 September 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 7 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 6 August 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (17 years, 9 months ago) Ordered inactive 06-O-12794 |
| 14 June 2006 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 06-O-12794 (17 years, 10 months ago) |
| 26 February 2006 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (18 years, 2 months ago) Ordered inactive 04-O-12774 |
| 29 December 2005 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 04-O-12774 (18 years, 4 months ago) |
| 13 September 2004 | Active (19 years, 7 months ago) |
| 6 June 2004 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (19 years, 11 months ago) Actual Suspension Delayed 02-O-10906 |
| 5 May 2004 | Probation with conditions 02-O-10906 (19 years, 12 months ago) |
| 21 April 2004 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 02-O-10906 |
| 18 February 2004 | Active (20 years, 2 months ago) |
| 1 January 2004 | Inactive (20 years, 4 months ago) |
| 4 October 2000 | Active (23 years, 7 months ago) |
| 16 August 2000 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (23 years, 8 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 97-O-11894 |
| 3 December 1984 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (39 years, 5 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
May 13, 2007 JUDITH ANN FINCH [#114851], 71, of Walnut Creek was disbarred May 13, 2007, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Finch violated probation conditions attached to a 2004 disciplinary order: she did not file three quarterly probation reports, did not file six more on time, and she failed to complete the required six hours of continuing education courses in ethics.Finch has three prior disciplines. In the underlying matter, she was suspended for misconduct involving improper business transactions with clients and failure to perform legal services competently. In 2000, she was suspended for failing to avoid interests adverse to her client.Last year, Finch was suspended for a year for the unauthorized practice of law, violating a court order and committing an act of moral turpitude by making misrepresentations to a bar investigator.May 13, 2007 JUDITH ANN FINCH [#114851], 71, of Walnut Creek was disbarred May 13, 2007, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20. In a default proceeding, the State Bar Court found that Finch violated probation conditions attached to a 2004 disciplinary order: she did not file three quarterly probation reports, did not file six more on time, and she failed to complete the required six hours of continuing education courses in ethics.Finch has three prior disciplines. In the underlying matter, she was suspended for misconduct involving improper business transactions with clients and failure to perform legal services competently. In 2000, she was suspended for failing to avoid interests adverse to her client.Last year, Finch was suspended for a year for the unauthorized practice of law, violating a court order and committing an act of moral turpitude by making misrepresentations to a bar investigator.October 26, 2006 JUDITH ANNE FINCH [#114851], 69, of Walnut Creek was suspended for two years, stayed, actually suspended for one year and until the State Bar Court grants a motion to terminate her suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. If the actual suspension exceeds two years, she must prove her rehabilitation. The order took effect Oct. 26, 2006. In a default proceeding, the bar court found that Finch committed two acts of misconduct. She was suspended in 2004 but appeared or filed documents in court during that time.Responding to an inquiry by a bar investigator, Finch stated that she had not worked on any case during her suspension.The court found that by practicing law while not entitled, Finch failed to support California law and by making misrepresentations to a bar investigator, she committed an act of moral turpitude.The underlying discipline was imposed for Finch’s failure to properly supervise an employee. She also was disciplined in 2000 after stipulating to three acts of misconduct relating to entering into business agreements with a client.April 21, 2004 JUDITH ANN FINCH [#114851], 68, of Walnut Creek was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on two years of probation with an actual 60-day suspension. The order took effect April 21, 2004. Three people hired Finch in 1999 to represent them in a legal malpractice action against their previous lawyer. Over a one-year period, Finch made more than 20 interest-free loans that she characterized as advances, totaling almost $150,000, to the clients. She did not disclose the terms of the loans in writing, advise the clients to seek independent counsel or obtain their written consent to the terms of the loans.In another matter, Finch stipulated to misconduct and was given an actual 30-day suspension and was ordered to satisfy a judgment against her. While she was suspended and without her knowledge, Finch’s legal assistant faxed three messages about a pending case to opposing counsel.She stipulated that she recklessly failed to supervise her assistant.Finch was suspended in 2000 after stipulating to three acts of misconduct relating to entering into business agreements with a client.In mitigation, no clients were harmed by her misconduct.August 16, 2000 JUDITH A. FINCH [#114851], 64, of Alamo was suspended for two years, stayed, and placed on two years of probation with an actual 30-day suspension and until she demonstrates her rehabilitation and satisfies a judgment entered in Alameda County Superior Court. If the suspension exceeds 90 days, she must comply with rule 955. The order took effect Aug. 16, 2000, Finch stipulated to three acts of misconduct relating to entering into business agreements with a client.In the first instance, Finch and her husband bought a condominium in 1988 with a client and her husband. By doing so, Finch entered into a business agreement with a client whose terms were not in writing and to which the client did not give written consent.In 1991, Finch and her husband accepted personal loans of $10,000 from the client, promising to repay the loans over time. Finch stipulated that she entered into a business transaction which was unfair to the client, the terms were not disclosed to or consented to in writing by the client, and Finch did not advise the client to seek independent counsel.In 1992, the client arranged a $50,000 loan to refinance the 1988 loan related to the purchase of the condominium. The loan was to be secured by the client’s residence and Finch and her husband were to repay one-half of the principle plus interest. In 1996, the terms of the refinance agreement were put in writing and post-dated to 1992.The terms of both the $10,000 loan and the refinance agreement were unfair because no collateral was provided by Finch and her husband and no promissory note was executed to memorialize the Finches’ obligations.The client eventually sued Finch for malpractice and Finch and her husband for breach of contract and won a judgment of $50,000 which has not been paid.In mitigation, Finch has no record of discipline since her 1984 admission to the bar. |