In re Petition for Disciplinary Action against Douglas A. Ruhland, a Minnesota Attorney, Registration No. 94328.
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MINNESOTA
July 11, 2013
IN SUPREME COURT
A11-2265
In re Petition for Disciplinary Action against
Douglas A. Ruhland, a Minnesota Attorney,
Registration No. 94328.
ORDER
By order filed on June 19, 2012, we suspended respondent Douglas A. Ruhland
from the practice of law for a minimum of 30 days. In re Ruhland, 815 N.W.2d 158, 158
(Minn. 2012) (order). Our order expressly stated that, within one year of the date of the
filing of the order, respondent was required to file with the Clerk of Appellate Courts
proof of his successful completion of the professional responsibility portion of the state
bar examination and that failure to do so would result in automatic re-suspension,
pending successful completion of the examination, pursuant to Rule 18(e)(3), Rules on
Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR). Ruhland, 815 N.W.2d at 159.
We reinstated respondent on August 6, 2012. In re Ruhland, 818 N.W.2d 522,
522 (Minn. 2012) (order). Our order reinstating respondent repeated the requirement
that, by June 19, 2013, respondent had to file with the Clerk of Appellate Courts proof of
successful completion of the professional responsibility portion of the state bar
examination and that failure to do so would result in automatic re-suspension, pending
successful completion of the examination, pursuant to Rule 18(e)(3), RLPR. Ruhland,
818 N.W.2d at 522.
1
Rule 18(e)(3), RLPR, provides that, unless waived by this court, a lawyer who has
been suspended for 90 days or less “must, within one year from the date of the
suspension order, successfully complete such written examination” for the professional
responsibility portion of the state bar exam. “Except upon motion and for good cause
shown, failure to successfully complete this examination shall result in automatic
suspension of the lawyer effective one year after the date of the original suspension
order.” Rule 18(e)(3), RLPR.
Respondent did not provide this court with proof by June 19, 2013, that he
successfully passed the professional responsibility portion of the state bar examination.
Instead, respondent filed a motion in which he asked this court for additional time in
which to pass the professional responsibility portion of the state bar examination.
Respondent states that he attempted to register for the April 2013 examination, but that
when he did so the registration deadline had passed. Respondent argues that there are
extenuating circumstances that justify giving him additional time in which to pass the
examination because he has been dealing with issues related to his aging parents in recent
months.
Based on all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion of respondent Douglas A. Ruhland is
denied. Ruhland’s conditional reinstatement is revoked, and he is indefinitely suspended,
effective 10 days from the date of filing of this order. Respondent shall comply with
Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and
tribunals). Respondent may apply for reinstatement under Rule 18(f), RLPR, by filing
2
with the Clerk of Appellate Courts and the Director proof that he has successfully
completed the professional responsibility portion of the state bar examination.
Dated: July 11, 2013
BY THE COURT:
/s/
Alan C. Page
Associate Justice
3
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
