Attorney Contempt – Disbarment

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: In the Matter of:  Al-Haroon B. Husain

Case No.: 15-3308; 16-1254

Officials: BAUER and EASTERBROOK, Circuit Judges, and DEGUILIO, District Judge. *

Focus: Attorney Contempt – Disbarment

Husain appealed both the disbarment and the contempt finding to the district court. It assigned both appeals to the court’s five‐member Executive Committee, which handles the court’s disciplinary proceedings. The Executive Committee affirmed the order disbarring Husain but dismissed the appeal from the order holding Husain in contempt. Unfortunately, the Executive Committee did not transfer the contempt appeal to a single judge. Yet 28 U.S.C. §158(a) entitles Husain to review by at least one district judge. We therefore remand the contempt appeal to the district court for assignment to, and decision by, a single judge. The disbarment issue, by contrast, is ready for decision by this court.

This appeal has been handled under seal. The briefs and the entire appellate record have been concealed from public view. Even the appellate docket has been sealed. The judgment disbarring Husain is affirmed. The Executive Committee’s order in the contempt appeal is vacated, and that aspect of the case is remanded for decision by a district judge

Vacated and Remanded in part and Affirmed in part

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.