Circuit Courts Lack Jurisdiction over Lawyer Discipline

Gatewood A. Walden v. The Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar, [Ms. SC-2023-0507, Dec. 8, 2023] __ So. 3d __ (Ala. 2023). The Court (Sellers, J.; Parker, C.J., and Wise, Stewart, and Cook, JJ., concur) affirms the Montgomery Circuit Court’s judgment dismissing for lack of subject matter jurisdiction Walden’s pro se complaint against the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar.

In June 2012, the Board issued an order disbarring Walden, and the Supreme Court affirmed the order. Ms. *2. After his disbarment, Walden initiated multiple proceedings in both state and federal court challenging his disbarment. Id. On de novo review, the Court affirms the dismissal of Walden’s latest action challenging his disbarment, reiterating that “matters involving the discipline of the State Bar are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the State Bar with review by the Supreme Court ….” Ms. *5.

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