Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman, in his written order of attorney discipline yesterday, stated that Arriola “is hereby disbarred from practicing law in the courts or otherwise in the CNMI and his name is stricken from the roll of admitted attorneys.”
According to the judge, “A court must be extremely diligent in protecting and upholding the integrity and decorum of the judicial system. The public’s confidence in the judicial system depends on it. A main factor in pursuing this constant diligence is to regulate the attorneys who practice law before the court and to assure that attorneys do not engage in conduct that disparages the administration of justice.”
Wiseman said Arriola’s misconduct “has resulted in serious injuries to many former clients, to the public, and to the legal system — the appropriate discipline is disbarment.”
Last June, Senior Judge Consuelo Bland Marshall of the Central District of California imposed a 58-month jail sentence on Arriola, 43, for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and another 58 months for one count of wire fraud.
The sentences will be served concurrently.
Arriola and his co-defendant, Luis Kaipat Pelisamen, 58, who is now serving his five-year jail term in a federal facility, are jointly and severally to pay restitution in the amount of $625,775.
Arriola appeared in Superior Court on Aug. 26, 2010 for a closed hearing on the disciplinary sanctions against him.
Wiseman said Arriola “presented an articulate statement to the court which was well composed and reflected of his remorse, and the damage that he had caused to so many people. He also expressed his high respect for the court and expressed his apologies to the judiciary in general and to this court. He attributed his downfall and conviction to an addiction to drugs and alcohol, which he is determined to rule out of his life and claims to be on a course of conduct to do just that.”
Arriola was under house arrest at that time but was allowed by the federal court to attend the hearing.
He was waiting for his transfer to a federal prison to start serving his 58-month sentence.
Arriola “has been drug tested by the probation office on a regular basis and believes that he is on the road to recovery,” Wiseman noted in his order.
Arriola expressed his “desire to one day resume the practice of law before the CNMI courts, and acknowledges that if he is disbarred, he would not be eligible to apply for readmission for a period of five years.”
He asked the court to suspend him for a period of five years, rather than disbarment, referring to other jurisdictions that have recognized attorney addiction to drugs and alcohol as mitigating factors.
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