There’s been an update in former Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard’s petition for voluntary discipline. 

In May, the Supreme Court of Georgia rejected Woodard’s petition to just receive a public reprimand.

The Supreme Court referenced precedent that for a violation of the State Bar of Georgia’s Rules of Professional Conduct rule 8.4 (a) (3) — which is to be convicted of a misdemeanor involving “moral turpitude” — suspension or disbarment is an appropriate sanction.

“Although the State Bar supports Woodard’s request for a public reprimand, we do not agree that a public reprimand … is sufficient,” the May opinion reads.

Now, Woodard is requesting a self-imposed three to 12-month suspension from practicing law. 

How we got here

In August of last year, Woodard stepped down amid an indictment of 24 felony counts of theft by taking and giving false statements.

Back in March, the State Bar of Georgia recommended a public reprimand as opposed to suspension or disbarment for Woodard, which was aligned with her petition.

In the May opinion, the court said that there were two cases that Woodard used to support her request for public reprimand. 

The two cases were In the Matter of Cherry and In the Matter of Davis, both from 2019, which the court said is easily distinguishable as neither case involved a lawyer being convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a lawyer’s misuse of government funds.

Rather, the court said that the case is most similar to In the Matter of Williams from 2008 in which an assistant district attorney filed a petition for voluntary discipline for scheming to obtain money from the county. In that case, the assistant district attorney requested a six month suspension.

The new request

Woodard’s attorney, Dennis Cathey, is requesting a three month suspension for Woodard from the new July 10 request.

“The Trial Court recognized that a misdemeanor sentence and a First Offender plea was appropriate and that the system would be properly served by this treatment,” the filing reads. “Petitioner again urges that the suspension be for three months.” 

Cathey went on to say that if the court believes a longer suspension is more appropriate that they start it from Aug. 30, 2024 — roughly three weeks after she resigned. 

“She should not be punished for the incendiary news stories, nor should she be punished for an overcharged 24-count felony indictment, which was later abandoned by the prosecution,” the filing read. “This is not to say that Ms. Woodard is blameless … the conduct was a breach of her duty as a public official…” 

The Supreme Court of Georgia will now make their decision on the new request.