Albany attorney, judge Johnnie Graham disbarred by Georgia Supreme Court

ALBANY — The Georgia Supreme Court agreed unanimously to disbar a well-known legal figure in Albany who has been serving as an associate judge for Dougherty Juvenile Court.

“This disciplinary matter is before the Court on a Notice of Discipline seeking the disbarment of Johnnie Mae Graham (State Bar No. 304625),” a decision released by the court on Monday said. “Graham failed to acknowledge service of the Notice of Discipline mailed to her at the post office box address on file with the State Bar’s membership department.

“The State Bar then properly served Graham by publication pursuant to Bar Rule 4-203.1 (b) (3) (ii), but she failed to file a Notice of Rejection. Therefore, she is in default, has waived her right to an evidentiary hearing, and is subject to such discipline and further proceedings as may be determined by this Court.”

A phone call to the juvenile court office seeking comment from Graham was not returned.

In 2013, a client retained Graham to represent him in connection to a car accident, and Graham filed a lawsuit on the client’s behalf in December of that year. After the lawsuit was filed, the client said Graham failed to respond to the client, who said he attempted to contact her on numerous occasions regarding the lawsuit.

“Attorney represented me for a car wreck case,” the client wrote in a statement filed during the proceedings against Graham. “She filed a lawsuit on my behalf Dec. 16, 2013, Case #13CV00804 in Superior Court of Decatur County. As far as I know, that is all that was ever done.

“I have asked about the status of my case, but have heard nothing. I have since found out that the case was dismissed in 2015 because the attorney failed to attend a hearing. I was never notified of any of the developments in the case. The attorney has not provided a copy of my file or responded to my phone calls, in-person visits or written inquiries.”

In August 2015, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the client’s case. Graham did not file a response to the motion to dismiss, and in October 2015, the court dismissed the client’s case due to what it said was Graham’s failure to appear at a hearing.

“The State Disciplinary Board found that Graham failed to perform work on the client’s behalf, abandoned the legal matter the client entrusted to her to the client’s detriment, failed to return the client’s file, and failed to provide information requested by the State Bar during the investigation of this disciplinary matter,” the decision said. “Based on these facts, the State Disciplinary Board found probable cause to believe that Graham violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.16 (d), and 3.2 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d).

The maximum sanction for a violation of Rule 31.3 is disbarment, while the maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.3, 1.16, and 3.2 is a public reprimand.”

The decision went on to say that the disciplinary board found Graham has extensive experience in the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar in 1981, and that she has previous disciplinary history, having received a review panel reprimand in 2013.

“Having reviewed the record, we conclude that disbarment is the appropriate sanction in this matter,” the court said. “Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the name of Johnnie Mae Graham be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia.”

The notice of discipline was filed on Feb. 5, with the proof of service of the notice of discipline filed March 15, documents from the state Supreme Court said.

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