The State Bar of Georgia recommended a public reprimand for former Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard.
That is opposed to a suspension or disbarment.
Woodard stepped down in August of last year amid an indictment of 24 felony counts of theft by taking and giving false statements.
On Aug. 31, Woodard accepted a plea deal that dropped the 24 charges and she pleaded guilty to one count of unprofessional conduct, a misdemeanor.
Woodard’s attorney, Dennis Cathey, submitted a petition for voluntary discipline on Jan. 29.
In it, Cathey makes the argument that Woodard should be punished for the actual offense of unprofessional conduct and not for the “incendiary news stories” or the “overcharged 24-count felony indictment.”
Cathey attributed the vagueness of the Local Victim Assistance Program (LVAP), the COVID-19 pandemic, the intense workload, and Woodard’s own “physical and emotional challenges” for the mistakes she reportedly made in office.
Cathey did go on to say in the petition that Woodard is not without fault, though.
“This is not to say that Ms. Woodard is blameless, and the above is not proffered as an excuse for conduct that involved moral turpitude,” the petition reads.
Cathey ultimately requested a public reprimand so that Woodard can retain her license to practice.
In a response on Feb. 21, the State Bar said that the false statements portion of Woodard’s indictment was likely due to negligence.
“Because the evidence…showed that Respondent’s false statements regarding reimbursements were more likely caused by negligence rather than knowing deceit, ABA Standard 4.6 would tend to support a reprimand rather than a suspension for the ‘false statements’ component of this case,” the response reads.
The State Bar did consider an argument for disbarment.
“It would be absurd to suggest that misrepresentation, misrepresentation, or theft by the very person who had the job of prosecuting (and even jailing) others who did the same as she did not ‘adversely reflect on [Respondent’s] fitness to practice law.’ Thus, ABA Standard 5.11 suggests that disbarment might be appropriate in this case,” the response reads.
Ultimately, however, the State Bar did recommend a public reprimand as opposed to disbarment or suspension.
The Georgia Supreme Court will make the ultimate ruling in the case, with no timetable for a decision as of yet.
