New Orleans Lawyer Suspended for Stalking

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Summary: A lawyer from New Orleans had her state license suspended after pleading guilty to stalking.

New Orleans-based lawyer Trisha Ann Ward was suspended by the Louisiana Supreme Court from practicing on an interim basis. The suspension comes as a result of a 2013 criminal case against Ward. She was charged with misdemeanor stalking and violating a protective order.

  

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Ward pleaded guilty to both charges in November 2015. The guilty plea included a six-month suspension, two years of probation, and a requirement for a psychological evaluation. At that time, she says she left the area so avoid the chance of more run-ins with the victim, a university professor, or the victim’s husband.

Ward was allegedly close to the couple at one time and was even given a key to their residence. She was found in their home by a housekeeper. Ward claimed she was returning money borrowed from the victim in order to eliminate suspicion over the affair they were having. A year after that incident, Ward also made purchases off the victim’s Amazon account.

The district attorney lowered the original charge of illegal entry to stalking, changing it from a felony to a misdemeanor. The count concerning the online purchase was dropped. It is unknown if her Louisiana State Bar suspension will affect her standing with the American Bar Association.

Ward states on her LinkedIn profile that she earned her J.D. from Louisiana State University and then joined the state and American bar association in 2008. She specializes in the criminal defense of individuals unable to pay for attorney services. The cases have ranged from appeals to potential death-penalty convictions. She is also involved in her community, volunteering as a coach for the Special Olympics and working with hurricane disaster relief agencies.

Do you think Ward’s American Bar Association status should be affected or just her Louisiana status? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

To learn more about lawyers with stalking problems, read these articles:

• Lawyer Arrested for Being Too Romantic
• Corporate Lawyer Turns Peeping Tom
• Lawsuit Over Masturbating Lawyer Brought To a Finish

Photo: flickr.com