Censure the right call on DA Chambers
Published December 27, 2006 at midnight
The Attorney Regulation Council, a three-judge panel which investigates allegations of misconduct by lawyers, made the proper call on Tuesday when it publicly censured Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers for abusing her office to help out an acquaintance.
The panel could have disbarred Chambers, but that penalty would be too severe. She was cleared of allegations that she had threatened Jonathan Steiner, a collection agency attorney, for harassing his client's targets.
It did conclude, however, that Chambers tried to intimidate Steiner. Chambers hinted to the lawyer that she might drag him in front of a grand jury, though the only complaint she had about his behavior came from Laurett Barrentine, an Englewood councilwoman Chambers had met at political functions.
Barrentine said she was a victim of identity theft and had been wrongfully sued for unpaid debts. If so, it was the duty of the courts to decide her fate. Chambers should not have tried to personally mete out justice.
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