No. 186, 2004.Supreme Court of Delaware.Submitted: May 6, 2004.
Decided: May 21, 2004.
Board on Professional Responsibility Case No. 1, 2003.
Before BERGER, STEELE, and JACOBS, Justices.
ORDER
Myron T. Steele, Justice.
This 21st day of May 2004, upon consideration of the parties’ Stipulation of Disbarment by Consent, it appears to the Court that:
(1) On January 27, 2003, the respondent, Joseph Kulesza, was suspended from the practice of law on an interim basis pending the Board on Professional Responsibility’s disposition of disciplinary charges against him. On February 6, 2004, following Kulesza’s guilty plea to one count of felony theft, the Superior Court sentenced him to two years at Level V incarceration, suspended entirely for one year of home confinement and one year of probation. Thereafter, Kulesza and the Office of Disciplinary filed with the Court this stipulation of disbarment by consent.
(2) Given his conviction of a serious crime that reflects on his fitness as a lawyer,[*] Kulesza and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel have signed and submitted for the Court’s approval a stipulation seeking Kulesza’s disbarment from the practice of law without further proceedings. Having considered the parties’ stipulation and the circumstances of this case, the Court concludes that the stipulation of disbarment by consent should be accepted. Kulesza’s misconduct clearly is serious enough to warrant disbarment without further proceedings.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Joseph D. Kulesza, Jr. is hereby DISBARRED from the practice of law in Delaware. His name shall be stricken immediately from the roll of attorneys licensed to practice before the Courts of this State. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel shall disseminate this Order in accordance with Rule 14 of the Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.
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