Stephen C. Jordan (2009)

File Stephen C.Jordan Landya B. McCafferty, Disciplinary Counsel Distribution:

reprimandto Mr. Jordan. conductin violationofM. Bar R.7.1( C) (3) (C) (4) , the Maine BoardofOverseers issued a he had reviewed that e-mail account and had copied private e-mails. As a resultofMr. Jordan's activelysoughttousethisinformationinthepresentationofhiscase,andagreedunderoaththat Jordanhadnot beengivenpermissiontoaccesshis wife'spersonalprivatee-mail.Mr.Jordan communicationsbetween Ms. Jordanand her counsel,includingtrialpreparationmaterial.Mr. personale-mailfromhercomputerat themaritalhome.The communicationsincluded ofthe maritalhome on December 4,2007.Mr. Jordanremotelyaccessedhiswife'sprivate inviolationof M. BarR.7.1(C)(3)(C),(4).Mrs.DarcyJordanwasawardedexclusivepossession conductboth before and during his April 2008contesteddivorceproceedingagainst his wife was hereofas Exhibit 1, StephenC. Jordanstipulatedwith the MaineGrievanceCommissionthat his As set forth in the Maine Order, a copyofwhich is attached hereto and made a part

orderdatedApril10,2009,fromtheMaine BoardofOverseers("the MaineOrder"). StephenC.Jordanasreciprocaldisciplineregardingthefactsandrulesviolationssetforthin an OrderofSeptember21, 2009, theProfessionalConductCommitteeherebyissues aReprimandto In accordance with NH Sup Ct. Rule37(12)and the New Hampshire SupremeCourt's

LD 2009-0004 In theMatterofStephenC. Jordan

Alan J. Cronheim Holly B.Fazzino,Admin. Coordinator Thomas P. Connair * non attorneymember David N. Cole JenniferL. Parent Susan R. Chollet* James R. Martin Toni M. Gray,* Vice Chair 603-224-5828 ♦ Fax 228-9511 Gretchen Rule Hamel BenettePizzimenti,Vice Chair Concord,New Hampshire 03301 RichardH. Darling* Margaret H. Nelson, Chair 4 Chenell Drive,Suite102 GeraldA. Daley*

Dated: April27,2009

they are based upon information and belief, he swears that he believes them to be true. factsaretrueupon hispersonalknowledge,informationand beliefand,to theextentthat Personallyappeared the above-named J. Scott Davis and made oath that the above

Kennebec, ss. Stateof Maine

Dated: April 27, 2009

wheremade upon informationand belief,Ibelieveitjj 1make thisaffidavitupon my own personalknowledge,jnformationand belief,and

grievancematters,is atrueand completecopyofsaidReport. GrievanceCommissiondatedApril10,2009 pertainingtotheabove-captioned 2. TheattachedcopyofStipulatedReportofFindingsand OrderofPanelB of the

1. I am Bar Counsel forthe Board ofOverseers ofthe Bar.

1,J.ScottDavis,beingfirstdulysworn,do herebydeposeand stateasfollows:

Stephen C. Jordan,Esq. BAR COUNSEL

v. AFFIDAVIT OF

Board ofOverseers ofthe Bar,

Kennebec, ss. Board of Overseers of the Bar

and Bar Counsel J.ScottDavis, Esq.fortheBoard.

Presentatthehearingwere AttorneyJordan,hiscounselJames M. Bowie,Esq.

PeterGoranitcsand AttorneyElizabethStoutwith adraftcopy of the Report.

consideration.The Board providedthe complainants,DistrictCourtJudge

ReportofFindingsand OrderfortheGrievanceCommissionPanel'sreviewand

Priorto the disciplinaryhearing,the partiessubmitteda Stipulated

February 10, 2009. DisciplinaryPetitionby the Board of Overseersof the Bar (theBoard) on

disciplinaryproceedingwas commenced by the filingof a stipulated

concerningmisconductby the Respondent,Stephen C. Jordan,Esq. The

conductedapublicdisciplinaryhearingpursuanttoMaine Bar Rule 7.1(e)(2)(E)

On April 10, 2009 afterdue notice,PanelB oftheGrievanceCommission

p. 4 made specific "Supplemental Findings" describing Attorney Jordan's

Guardian ad litem. By itsDivorce Judgment dated May 20, 2008, the court

Goranites presided at that hearing, and Attorney Stout served as the court's

wife, Plaintiff Darcy Jordan andhimselfas the pro se Defendant. Judge

before and during his April 2008 contested divorce proceeding between his

in other respects..."Each complaint involved Attorney Jordan's conduct both

questionas to another lawyer'shonesty,trustworthiness,or fitnessas a lawyer

attorney'sunprivilegedknowledge of misconduct "...thatraises a substantial

3.2(e)(1).That Bar Rule mandates the reporting by written complaint of an

referenced being filedpursuant to the reporting requirements of M. Bar R.

Jordan. Attorney Stout did the same on June 3, 2008. Both complaints

On May 20, 2008 Judge Goranites fileda complaint against Attorney

now practicinglaw or associatedwith any law firm.

in 1998 and iscurrentlyregisteredas an activepractitioner,although he isnot

subjectto the Maine Bar Rules.AttorneyJordan was admitted to the Maine bar

admitted to and engaged in the practice of law in the State of Maine and

York, State of Maine, has been at alltimes relevanthereto an attorneyduly

Respondent Stephen C. Jordan, currentlyof North Berwick, County of

comments ofcounsel,the Panel makes the followingdisposition:

Having reviewed the StipulatedReport of Findings and Order and heard

p. 5 thatdirectlyaffectedand limitedAttorneyJordan'strialconductand abilities,

AttorneyJordanto Bar Counsel.The courtalsoimposedimmediatesanctions

Based on those"SupplementalFindings",Judge Goranitesreported

copied privatee-mails. communicationsbetweenDarcyJordanand herattorney,and had

that he had reviewed that e-mail account including

presentationofhiscase to Judge Goranites,agreed underoath

sought to use Darcy Jordan'se-mail informationin the

6. At the contesteddivorceproceeding,AttorneyJordan actively

hiswife'spersonalprivatee-mail;and

5. AttorneyJordanknew he had notbeen givenpermissionto access

includingtrialpreparationmaterial;

communicationsbetweenPlaintiffDarcy Jordanand herattorney,

4. That e-mail account contained many private e-mail

home; hiswife'sprivatepersonale-mailfrom hercomputeratthemarital

3. AfterthedateofthatOrder,AttorneyJordanremotelyaccessed

maritalhome; issuedgivingPlaintiffDarcy Jordan exclusivepossessionof the

2. On December 4, 2007 an agreedinterimOrderofCourthad been

divorce; 1. AttorneyJordan, the Defendant,representedhimselfin that disciplinaryproceeding,AttorneyJordan expressedhis remorse for his

p. 6 attorney,the courtand the Guardian ad litem, among others.At this

offensivebehaviorand the upset itcaused to hisentirefamily,hiswife's

The panelnotesthatAttorneyJordan has takenresponsibilityfor his

ofreturningtotheactivepracticeoflaw intheimmediatefuture.

law sinceMarch of2008 and hasnotsought,norhashe any currentintention

purposeofseekingemploymentunrelatedtolaw practice.He hasnotpracticed

currentlyin the processofrelocatingoutsideofthe StateofMaine for the

betterdealwiththosestresses.We alsounderstandthatAttorneyJordanis

judgmentand actionsand theconsequencesofthoseactions,as wellas how to

includedtheanalysisofhow thesepressuresand stresseswere affectinghis

of hisdivorceand thelitigationassociatedwiththedivorce.Thiscounseling

and receivedpsychologicalcounselingto dealwiththepressuresand stresses

receivedand reviewedwrittenconfirmationthatAttorneyJordan undertook

divorcematter.AttorneyBowie has informedthePanelthat he haspersonally

communicationsbetweenhiswifeand herattorneyconcerningthatcontested

v/as no excusefor his completedisregardforthe sanctity of theconfidential

Jordanagreesthathisemotionalupsetfrom thedivorceprocessand hearing

upholdtheirresponsibilitiesto our legalsystemand tothecourts.Attorney

The Code of ProfessionalResponsibilityspecificallyrequiresattorneysto

remaining feesoftheGuardian ad litem.

Jordan,limitinghis right to presentevidenceand requiringhim to pay the

p. 7 instancesofimproperconductrelatedto hisdivorceand thatAttorneyJordan

Code ofProfessionalResponsibility,thattheviolationsappearto be isolated

Jordanagreesthathe did in factviolatetheabove-referencedsections-ofthe

recordon filewiththeBoard.The PanelhasconsideredthefactsthatAttorney

CounselconfirmedthatAttorneyJordan has no priorprofessionalsanction

likelyto be unable,to dischargeproperlytheirprofessionalduties. Bar

attorneyswho, by theirconduct,have demonstratedthattheyare unable,or

proceedingsisnot punishment,butratherthe protectionofthe publicfrom

Maine Bar Rule 2(a) providesthatthe purposeof bar disciplinary

information)

* Bar Rule 3.6(h)(conductthat violatesthe confidentialityof

ofjustice);and

o Bar Rule3.2(i)(4)(conductthat isprejudicialto theadministration

misrepresentation);

• Bar Rule 3.2(f)(3)(conductinvolvingdishonesty,fraud,deceitor

respects;

lawyer'shonesty,trustworthiness,or fitnessas a lawyerin other

o Bar Rule 3.2(0(2)(illegalconductthatadverselyreflectson the

ofProfessionalResponsibility:

he agreedthathisconductwas inviolationofthefollowingportionsofthe.Code

inexcusableviolationsoftheCode ofProfessionalResponsibility.Specifically, ihisdisciplinary sanction forthePanel. p. 8 agreementoftheparlies,PanelChairJohn R. Bass,IIappearedaloneatthehearingand issued ♦Prior loIhishearing,allthree(3)rncnibcrsofllicPanelreviewedand approved(hisReport.By

Grievance Commission Panel <ci.

J.ScottDavis,Bar Counsel

For the

Dated: April 10, 2009

Jordan pursuant to M.Bar R. 7.1(e)(3)(C),(4).

Panel B hereby issues a Public Reprimand to Attorney Stephen C.

below.

Jordan of his right to filea Petitionfor Reviewas evidenced by his signature

The Panel accepts the proposed dispositionand the waiver by Attorney

(all with enclosure) AttorneyRegistrationFile New HampshireAtty. DisciplinaryCounsel / Maine StateBar Association c: James M. Bowie, Esq. Enclosure

Thank you.

Findingsand OrderofaPaneloftheGrievanceCommissiondatedApril10,2009: DisciplinaryMatters),pleasebe notifiedasfollowsconcerningtheenclosedStipulatedReportof PursuanttotheBoardofOverseersoftheBar'sRegulationNo. 56 (ProtocolforPublicationof

DATE: April14,2009

RE: StephenC. Jordan,Esq./RublicReprimand

FROM: J.ScottDavis,BarCounsel/H/^^""

Probate,Clerkof theAdministrativeCourtand Clerkof theU.S.DistrictCourt ClerkoftheLaw Court,ClerksoftheMaine Superiorand DistrictCourts,Registersof TO:

CharlesVV. SmithJr.,Esq. JacquelineL.L.Gomes StephenJ.Schwartz,Esq. Emailboard@mebaroversecrs.org•Web www.mebarovcrsecrs.org Aria Ece Dawn M. Pelletier, Esq. Phone 207-623-1121• Fax207-623-4175 AssistantBar Counsel ChristineMolden, Ph.D. Charles E. GilbertIII,Esq. J.Scon Davis Augusta, ME 04332-0527 PatriciaM. Ender,F.sq. Bar Counsel P 0 Box 527 JacquelineM. Rogers DavidM. Sanders,Rsq.,Vice Chair 97 WinthropStreet Executive Director J»d Knox, Chair