A judge for the State Bar of California has recommended a two-year suspension for Darryl Wayne Genis, a flamboyant Santa Barbara DUI attorney who has a history of courting high-profile cases as often as he does headline-grabbing controversy.
In her May 18 decision, Judge Cynthia Valenzuela cited two previous disciplinary actions against Genis ― a 30-day suspension for skipping scheduled hearings and “asking prohibited questions at trial,” and a 60-day suspension for
on a prosecutor’s desk during a break in court proceedings, then “knowingly and intentionally misleading a judge” when confronted.The “multiple acts of wrongdoing” by Genis, who has openly antagonized judges and prosecutors with personally belittling comments and threatened journalists with legal action who report on his behavior, demonstrate “bad faith, substantial harm to the administration of justice, and indifference,” Valenzuela said.
Talk about burying the lede ...