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06/18/04 "See News Release 052 for any concurrences and/or dissents."

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA NO. 04-B-0239 IN RE: ARCHIE L. JEFFERSON ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PER CURIAM
This disciplinary matter arises from one count of formal charges filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel ("ODC") against respondent, Archie L. Jefferson, a disbarred attorney.

PRIOR DISCIPLINARY HISTORY Respondent was admitted to the practice of law in Louisiana in 1987. On February 19, 1993, this court suspended respondent for two and one-half years, retroactive to December 14, 1990, the date of his interim suspension. In re: Jefferson, 613 So. 2d 959 (La. 1993). Respondent did not apply for reinstatement following his suspension, nor was he ever reinstated. In December 1995, respondent was convicted of the unauthorized practice of law. He was disbarred for that and other serious professional misconduct on June 15, 2001. In re: Jefferson, 01-1296 (La. 6/15/01), 789 So. 2d 569.

UNDERLYING FACTS As a result of his prior disciplinary proceedings, respondent has been prohibited from practicing law since December 14, 1990. Nevertheless, between June 1, 2000 and September 21, 2001, respondent practiced law in a corporate legal dispute involving B&C Broadcasting, Inc. Specifically, in the matters entitled Vera S. Foster, et al. v. B&C Broadcasting, Inc., et al., No. 99-0674 on the docket of the United

States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, and Vera S. Foster, et al. v. Faye Brown Blackwell, et al., No. 96-5298 on the docket of the 14th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Calcasieu, respondent notarized signatures on an escrow agreement, conducted settlement negotiations with opposing counsel, signed pleadings, and engaged in other activities which constitute the practice of law.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS On November 8, 2002, the ODC filed one count of formal charges against respondent, alleging that his conduct violated the following provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct: Rules 5.5(a) (engaging in the unauthorized practice of law), 8.4(a) (violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct), 8.4(b) (commission of a criminal act reflecting adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer), 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice). The formal charges were served upon respondent by certified mail received on November 20, 2002.1 Respondent failed to answer or otherwise reply to the formal charges. Accordingly, the factual allegations contained therein were deemed admitted and proven by clear and convincing evidence pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX,

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