The Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court issued an order placing Kristi Michelle Morley of Phoenix on interim suspension.
On Feb. 21, 2017, the State Bar of Arizona moved for Morley’s interim suspension. Various courts held Morley in contempt and assessed monetary sanctions against her. The State Bar obtained four probable cause orders and filed a formal complaint against her, and is seeking probable cause orders in connection with four other disciplinary charges. Morley has not responded to State Bar screening investigation requests.
Charges against Morley include failing to turn over a client file to successor counsel; failing to adequately or competently represent her clients in family court by taking no action on her clients’ behalf and failing to appear in court; failing to communicate with her client after obtaining a $30,000 judgment and arranging to obtain the check from opposing counsel; being held in contempt and being sanctioned; failing to provide disclosures required by rules of procedure; and failing to comply with multiple court orders.
Morley failed to appear for the evidentiary hearing on the State Bar’s motion held on March 27, 2017. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge determined that there is probable cause that Morley engaged in conduct that has caused—or is likely to cause—immediate harm to clients, the public, and the administration of justice. He ordered her to notify her clients of her interim suspension, and froze her trust and operating accounts.