STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. COOLEY

STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. COOLEY
2013 OK 27
Case Number: SCBD-5987
Decided: 04/15/2013

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

FOR PUBLICATION IN OBJ ONLY. NOT RELEASED FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.

STATE OF OKLAHOMA ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION, Complainant,
v.
CHRISTOPHER MARK COOLEY Respondent.

ORDER OF IMMEDIATE INTERIM SUSPENSION

The Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA), in compliance with Rule 7.1 and 7.2 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings (RGDP), has forward to this Court certified copies of the Information, Plea of Guilty, and Order of Deferred Sentence Felony in which Christopher Mark Cooley, pled guilty to the felony charges of False Declaration of Ownership, a violation of 59 O.S. 1512, and Falsely Personate Another to Create Liability, a violation of 21 O.S. 1531. Rule 7.3 of the RGDP provides: "Upon receipt of the certified copies of Judgment and Sentence on a plea of guilty, order deferring judgment and sentence, indictment or information and the judgment and sentence, the Supreme Court shall by order immediately suspend the lawyer from the practice of law until further order of the Court."

Having received certified copies of these papers and orders, this Court orders that Christopher Mark Cooley is immediately suspended from the practice of law. Christopher Mark Cooley is directed to show cause, if any, no later than April 26, 2013, why this order of interim suspension should be set aside. See RGDP Rule 7.3. The OBA has until May 7, 2013, to respond to Christopher Mark Cooley should one be filed.

Rule 7.2 of the RGDP provides that a certified copy of a plea of guilty, an order deferring judgment and sentence, or information and judgment and sentence of conviction "shall constitute the charge and be conclusive evidence of the commission of the crime upon which the judgment and sentence is based and shall suffice as the basis for discipline in accordance with these rules." Pursuant to Rule 7.4 of the RGDP, Christopher Mark Cooley has until May 6, 2013, to show cause in writing why a final order of discipline should not be imposed, to request a hearing, or to file a brief and any evidence tending to mitigate the severity of discipline. The OBA has until May 21, 2013, to respond.

DONE BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT this 15th day of April, 2013.

/S/CHIEF JUSTICE

ALL JUSTICES CONCUR.