San Diego, CA 92138-3549
1 September 2017 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (7 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
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31 January 2014 | Inactive (11 years, 3 months ago) |
5 November 2004 | Active (20 years, 6 months ago) |
7 August 2004 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (20 years, 9 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 02-C-10103 |
15 May 2003 | Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 02-C-10103 (21 years, 11 months ago) |
16 January 1990 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (35 years, 3 months ago) |
August 7, 2004 JOHN K. VAWTER [#145683], 50, of San Diego was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with a 90-day actual suspension and was ordered to prove his rehabilitation, take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Aug. 7, 2004. Vawter stipulated that he committed four acts of misconduct, stemming from a federal conviction for attempting to interfere with his client’s rights, a misdemeanor. He admitted that he committed an act of moral turpitude, misled the court, failed to supervise a non-attorney employee and failed to support the laws of the United States.In 2003, he pleaded no contest to obstruction of court orders in connection with his conduct toward a former client. The client hired him for $6,000, based on misrepresentations made by Vawter’s assistant. When the woman tried to hire a different lawyer, the assistant falsely told her she would get a longer sentence if she did not allow Vawter to represent her.In 2000, Vawter and his assistant were charged in an 11-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and obstruct justice. Vawter faced five counts. The government alleged that Vawter’s assistant, often in his presence, presented himself as an experienced criminal defense attorney and made false promises to clients. He allegedly told them that release on bail and reduced sentences could be bought by influencing judges and prosecutors and, in some cases, through bribery.The indictment further alleged that Vawter appeared in court for clients obtained fraudulently by his assistant, with whom he split legal fees. Further, the government said Vawter allowed clients to plead guilty without fully disclosing to the judges the false promises he and his assistant had made.After a 10-day trial in which the jury deadlocked, Vawter pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor.In mitigation, he had no prior record of discipline. |