The Daily Docket News takes on the OCDC

The mercurial emailed newsletter takes on the disciplinary arm of the Missouri BAR.

OCDC attorney, Shevon Harris, a screenshot from the Zoom conference in January 2021

It’s no secret that the BAR rarely punishes bad behavior from lawyers.

It was no surprise when my complaint against California attorney, Raj Matani, went nowhere.

The BAR rarely punishes bad attorneys: only those who challenge the system.

Check out my article on four such attorneys.

In Missouri, the disciplinary arm of the BAR is called the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel (OCDC).

Recently, the OCDC has targeted Evita Tolu: who is herself another whistleblowing attorney.

There’s nothing new there: what is new is that the corruption at the OCDC is receiving coverage, and not just with me and other alternative sources.

The St. Louis Record, the journal for lawyers in the St. Louis area, has been providing coverage to OCDC malfeasance recently.

The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel (OCDC) said it would not investigate 10 court-appointed guardians ad litem and two attorneys despite allegations that they violated Missouri law.

“Respondent asserts that it is not required to investigate Relator’s complaints against GALs because it is in Respondent’s discretion who and what to investigate pursuant to Rule 5.08(a),” stated OCDC staff counsel. “Respondent maintains that per Rule 5.08(a), Respondent “may investigate any such matter alleged to have been committed,” but certainly is not obligated to do so.”

The OCDC announced its decision not to investigate in its reply to a Petition for writ of mandamus filed by attorney Evita Tolu with the Missouri Supreme Court.

“The mandamus is not really about me,” Tolu said. “It's about accountability for parents and children who have no remedy or way to deal with guardians ad litem who violate Missouri law, court orders, and Rules of Professional Responsibility. The bigger goal was to make sure that guardians ad litem are held accountable for what they do to Missouri children whose parents are divorcing.”

Tolu filed the lawsuit against OCDC after GAL Allyson Brown filed an ethics complaint against her, but the Missouri Supreme Court has yet to rule on the mandamus, which includes Tolu's request to replace OCDC investigators with a panel of neutrals due to an appearance of a conflict of interest.

OCDC has received added scrutiny because of Shevon Harris. Harris participated in the notorious Zoom conference in January 2021, and she was identified by participants as an OCDC attorney.

In the latest edition of Daily Docket News (DDN), the emailed newsletter had its sights set on OCDC as well.