Issuing body: Minnesota Supreme Court
Case number: A23-1615
Order date: January 3, 2024
Document type: Minnesota Supreme Court disciplinary order
Result or filing position: Minimum 60-day suspension and $900 in costs
Primary issue: Discipline for admitted false statements and concealment
Length: 3 pages

About this document

The Minnesota Supreme Court's January 3, 2024 order approves the parties' jointly recommended discipline after independently reviewing the record. It states that Catherine McEnroe admitted the petition's allegations of knowingly false statements to a court and opposing counsel during a criminal trial and dishonest conduct intended to cover up those statements.

The court imposes a minimum 60-day suspension effective on the order date and $900 in costs. It also requires suspension notices, an affidavit establishing compliance with reinstatement conditions, and proof of successful completion of the professional-responsibility examination within one year. This order records the discipline imposed in January 2024; it does not establish McEnroe's present licensing status.

Why this document matters

This is the court's operative disciplinary disposition, separate from the Director's allegations and the parties' recommendation. Its detailed reinstatement and examination provisions are part of the order and explain why the suspension should not be summarized solely as a fixed end date.

Source note: Summary based on PDF pages 1-3. Consult the original document for exact wording, citations, signatures and formatting.

Related Justice-Denied reporting

Read the extracted text transcript

Accessible document transcript

[Page 1]
1
STATE OF MINNESOTA

IN SUPREME COURT

A23-1615

In re Petition for Disciplinary Action against
Catherine A. McEnroe, a Minnesota Attorney,
Registration No. 0219587.

O R D E R
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a petition
for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Catherine A. McEnroe committed
professional misconduct warranting public discipline—namely, making knowingly false
statements to a court and opposing counsel during a criminal trial and engaging in dishonest
conduct to cover up the false statements.
1 See Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 3.3(a)(1), 4.1, 8.4(c),
8.4(d).
The parties entered into a stipulation for discipline. In it, respondent waives her
right to answer, unconditionally admits the allegations of the petition, and waives her
procedural rights under Rule 14, Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR).
The parties jointly recommend that the appropriate discipline is a 60-day suspension,
effective as of the date of this order. The Director also provided a memorandum explaining

1 The filings in this case state that Susan Humiston, the Director of the Office of
Lawyers Professional Responsibility, is recused and did not take part in these proceedings.
Instead, a deputy director and a senior assistant director of the Office of Lawyers
Professional Responsibility have acted on behalf of the Director.
January 3, 2024

[Page 2]
2
why a 60-day suspension is appropriate. This memorandum states, in part, that mitigating
factors are present and that aggravating factors are not present.
The court has independently reviewed the file and approves the jointly
recommended disposition.

Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. Respondent Catherine A. McEnroe is suspended from the practice of
law
for a minimum of 60 days, effective as of the date of this order .
2. Respondent shall comply with Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of
suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals), and shall pay $900 in costs under
Rule 24(a), RLPR.
3. Respondent shall be eligible for reinstatement to the practice of law
following the expiration of the suspension period provided that, not less than 15 days before
the end of the suspension period, respondent files with the Clerk of the Appellate Courts
and serves upon the Director an affidavit establishing that she is current in continuing legal
education requirements, has complied with Rules 24 and 26, RLPR, and has complied with
any other conditions for reinstatement imposed by the court.
4. Within 1 year of the date of this order, respondent shall file with the Clerk of
the Appellate Courts and serve upon the Director proof of successful completion of the
written examination required for admission to the practice of law by the Minnesota State
Board of Law Examiners on the subject of professional responsibility. See Rule 4.A.(5),
Rules for Admission to the Bar (requiring evidence that an applicant has successfully

[Page 3]
3
completed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination). Failure to timely file
the required documentation shall result in automatic suspension, as provided in Rule
18(e)(3), RLPR.
Dated: January 3, 2024 BY THE COURT:

Margaret H. Chutich
Associate Justice