Judge: Failure to pay Bar dues does not implicate lawyer’s professional character

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona has discharged her second order directing lawyer Stephen C. Woodruff to explain why he should not be suspended from the practice of law in federal court for failing to pay CNMI Bar dues.

In an order on Monday, Manglona ruled that Woodruff should not be disciplined in federal court for his failure to pay Commonwealth Bar dues.

Manglona noted that “disbarment by federal courts does not automatically flow from disbarment by state courts.”

The judge said Woodruff’s short-term failure to pay Bar dues does not by itself raise the sort of grave concern about his conduct that federal courts normally consider for reciprocal discipline.

“Failure to pay Bar dues does not implicate Woodruff’s professional character, at least not in the limited circumstances present here,” Manglona said.

Last Oct. 9, 2014, Manglona directed Woodruff to explain why he should not be suspended from the practice of law in federal court and otherwise discipline him for failure to comply with the court’s orders.

In the show-cause order, Manglona said a review of the docket shows that for the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September 2014, Woodruff has not notified the court of the progress of his disciplinary matter in CNMI courts.

Furthermore, the judge said it has come to her attention that on Aug. 9, 2013, Woodruff was suspended from the practice of law in CNMI courts for failure to pay his 2013 Bar membership fees.

On Aug. 8, 2013, Manglona required Woodruff within the last five days of each month to notify the court, in writing, of the progress of his disciplinary matter in the Commonwealth courts.

In that Aug. 8, order, the judge said any failure to comply with the order may subject Woodruff to fines for civil contempt.

On Oct. 8, 2013, Manglona issued a show-cause order why Woodruff should not be held in civil contempt for failure to submit progress reports for August and September 2013.

After a show-cause hearing on Oct. 11, 2013, Manglona excused Woodruff’s noncompliance but put him on notice “that any further disobedience or resistance to the court’s Aug. 3 order may subject him to prosecution for criminal contempt as well as disciplinary action under the court’s local rules.”

Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman ordered Woodruff’s disbarment in June 2013 for 44 violations of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Woodruff is appealing the matter.

In October 2013, Wiseman found Woodruff in contempt of court for not complying with the mandate of Rule 15 of the Commonwealth Disciplinary Rules and Procedures and of the disbarment order.

Woodruff was sentenced to five days in prison but it was suspended on the condition that he comply with the mandates. In December 2013, Wiseman ordered him to spend only three days in jail instead of five because he did submit something that partially complied with the court orders.