Vermilion Parish attorney surrenders his law license to State Supreme Court

Vermilion Parish attorney Jermaine Williams agreed to give up his license to practice law in Louisiana, as well as the United States, according to the State Supreme Court.
The agreement between the higher court and Williams, who is from Gueydan, was reached this past Friday.
According to a State Supreme Court news release, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) filed formal charges against Williams, alleging that he committed serious attorney misconduct, the most significant of which involves commingling and conversion of client funds.
There are five charges that the State Supreme Court ruled on which included mishandling funds.
The ODC is a division of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, which was created in 1990. The board has the responsibility of investigating all allegations of lawyer misconduct and making recommendations to the Court when discipline is warranted.
The ODC is also conducting an investigation into 14 new complaints against Williams which allege similar serious misconduct. Williams permanently resigned from the practice of law in lieu of discipline. The ODC has concurred in respondent’s petition.
Having considered the Petition for Permanent Resignation from the Practice of Law filed by Williams, Louisiana Bar Roll number 25937, and the concurrence.
The ODC accepted Williams’ permanent resignation in lieu of discipline and is hereby granted, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, 20.1 and Rule 5.5 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The ODC ordered that Williams be permanently prohibited from practicing law in Louisiana or in any other jurisdiction in which he is admitted to the practice of law; shall be permanently prohibited from seeking readmission to the practice of law in this state or in any other jurisdiction in which he is admitted; and shall be permanently prohibited from seeking admission to the practice of law in any jurisdiction.
Williams, a former assistant district attorney, had a law firm in Lafayette and also practiced law in Vermilion Parish.
Back in December of 2014, Williams wrote a letter to the State Supreme Court agreeing to resign in May of 2015.
This is part of the letter obtained by the Meridional from the Clerk of Court’s Office of the State Supreme Court.
“I recently executed and you should have received my petition for voluntary resignation from the profession of law. The purpose of this correspondence is not to seek withdrawal of that petition nor is it to ask to spare my license. I understand and agree that I have not demonstrated the qualities worthy of this noble profession. I am humbly requesting; however, more time. A few years ago I began down a very slippery slope and allowed my Trust Account to become unbalanced. Succinctly put, I began the process of a rolling conversion using monies in my Trust Account for purposes that they were not intended. I also found myself in dire tax problems. Earlier this year, I settled cases that I thought would allow me to correct the mishandling of my Trust Account only to see over $70,000.00 seized by the IRS (over $30,000.00 was taken directly from my Trust Account). I make no excuses for the mishandling of my Trust Account and/or the problems with the IRS; those burdens rest solely on my shoulders.
“I do recognize that my own actions have brought about these consequences and I accept the disciplinary action that is imminent. I sincerely apologize to you, my colleagues, family, friends, clients and all who placed their trust in me; trust I did not deserve. I likewise apologize for daunting the legal community with another shameful “black eye.” It has truly been an honor to have practiced law for the past sixteen (16) years. It has been a blessing and my pleasure to have served the communities and clients over the years. Again, I am sorry.”