Laura Joan Colburn was admitted to the California Bar 5th December 1990, but has since been disbarred. Laura graduated from University of San Diego SOL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | Laura Joan Colburn |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 5 December 1990 (33 years, 5 months ago) |
| Status | Disbarred |
| Bar Number | 149567 |
Contact
| Phone Number | 619-957-1318 |
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Schools
| Law School | University of San Diego SOL (San Diego CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | University of California San Diego (La Jolla CA) |
Address
| Current Address | PO Box 178784 San Diego, CA 92177 |
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| Map |
History
| 26 September 2008 | Disbarred (15 years, 7 months ago) Disbarment 06-C-13230 |
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| 11 April 2008 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years ago) Ordered inactive 06-C-13230 |
| 16 June 2007 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (16 years, 10 months ago) Ordered inactive 06-C-13230 |
| 20 February 2007 | Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 06-C-13230 (17 years, 2 months ago) |
| 28 February 2002 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (22 years, 2 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 99-C-11947 |
| 9 February 2001 | Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 99-C-11947 (23 years, 2 months ago) |
| 30 November 1997 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (26 years, 5 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 95-O-15113 |
| 12 August 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 8 months ago) Suspended, failed to pay fees |
| 14 July 1996 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (27 years, 9 months ago) Suspended, failed to pass Prof.Resp.Exam 93-O-12879 |
| 14 August 1995 | Active (28 years, 8 months ago) |
| 15 June 1995 | Not eligible to practice law in CA (28 years, 10 months ago) Discipline w/actual suspension 93-O-12879 |
| 20 April 1994 | Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 93-O-12879 (30 years ago) |
| 5 December 1990 | Admitted to the State Bar of California (33 years, 5 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
September 26, 2008 LAURA J. COLBURN [#149567], 44, of San Diego was disbarred Sept. 26, 2008, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. Colburn pleaded guilty in 2006 to methamphetamine possession and child endangerment — possession of methamphetamine in the presence of a minor. Both are misdemeanors. The State Bar Court entered her default when she failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings.Colburn’s husband was arrested in 2005 for possession for sale of more than one pound of methamphetamine while he was transporting the drug in his car. He told police there were more drugs at home, where he and Colburn lived with her 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old twin sons.At the home, police found a plastic bag containing 99 percent pure methamphetamine in Colburn’s coin purse. She admitted it was hers but said it was solely for her and her husband’s personal use.The bar court found that Colburn’s convictions involved moral turpitude; she possessed a significant amount of the drug and she and her children lived with her husband knowing that he was a drug dealer.Colburn has three previous disciplines: a 1995 suspension for failing to perform legal services competently; a 1997 suspension for practicing law while suspended and failing to comply with probation conditions; and a 2002 suspension following a conviction for misdemeanor petty theft after she shoplifted more than $400 worth of merchandise, a crime involving moral turpitude.“When viewed collectively, [Colburn’s] prior criminal conduct and her present criminal conduct establish that [she] has a longstanding lack of respect for the law and of her professional obligation to obey it,†wrote Judge Donald F. Miles, who recommended her disbarment.February 28, 2002 LAURA J. COLBURN [149567], 38, of San Diego was suspended for one year, stayed, and placed on two years of probation with a 30-day actual suspension. The order took effect Feb. 28, 2002. In September 1998, Colburn pleaded no contest to petty theft, a misdemeanor, after she arranged with a friend who was a cashier at a Thrifty drug store to be charged for only a few of the many items she was purchasing. She paid $4.99 for 62 items valued at $403.96.The misdemeanor involved moral turpitude.Colburn admits to a methamphetamine addiction for seven years prior to her 1998 arrest. She lost custody of her children for nine months, but has not used drugs since August 1998.Colburn also was disciplined in 1995 for failure to perform legal services competently or cooperate with the bar's investigation, and for withdrawing from representation without protecting her client's interests. In 1997, she was disciplined for practicing law while suspended and for failing to comply with probation conditions from the earlier discipline or to cooperate with a bar investigation. She also committed an act of moral turpitude.November 30, 1997 LAURA J. COLBURN [#149567], 33, of San Diego was suspended for three years, stayed, and placed on probation for three years, with a one-year actual suspension, effective Nov. 30, 1997. She was ordered to comply with rule 955. In July 1995, while on disciplinary suspension, Colburn faxed an arraignment form to the municipal court in San Diego, identifying herself as the attorney for a client in a criminal case. She entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of her client and demanded a jury trial. In addition to misleading the court as to her eligibility to practice law, she misstated the reason for a proposed court appearance date 30 days after her client’s arraignment. Colburn also failed to respond to the State Bar’s inquiry of her unauthorized practice of law and cooperate with the pending disciplinary investigation. In another matter, Colburn failed to timely complete six hours of a law office management course, as required by a previous disciplinary order. In aggravation, Colburn has a prior record of discipline. She received a 60-day actual suspension and two years probation in May 1995 for failure to perform, abandonment of a client and failure to cooperate with the bar’s investigation. There were no mitigating circumstances. |